Aleem Dar hopes to officiate in fifth World Cup

Pakistani umpire says, according to law, he can supervise matches for next 10 years

Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar, part of the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel, has expressed his desire to officiate in a fifth World Cup.

Dar was addressing media during a ceremony at his cricket academy in Lahore where he said that he has been serving cricket “honestly” for more than 17 years now.

“I have been supervising international matches for more than 17 years now and it is an honour for me and Pakistan that I have officiated in the most number of matches,” he said as quoted Daily Express.

The 49-year-old then expressed his wish to officiate in a fifth World Cup.

“I have always done my job with complete honesty,” said Dar. “I wish I can officiate in five World Cups. If I get a chance to supervise matches in the upcoming 2019 World Cup in England, then my wish would be fulfilled.”

Dar, who won the umpire of the year award for three consecutive years from 2009-2011, says he has a lot of time before he decides to end his career.

“There is nothing wrong in lengthening my career,” he said, when asked about his career goals. “According to the ICC rules, I can serve for 10 more years.”

Dar has been running a cricket academy for nearly seven years now and he believes the purpose that he wanted to achieve through it is still a work in progress, but he is happy with its current achievements.

“I feel content and happy by providing youngsters an opportunity to polish their skills in my academy,” he said. “The academy has reaped successful results to help train the dumb and deaf cricketers in the country. Currently four players in the national deaf cricket team received training from our academy.”

Former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood was also present in the ceremony and urged Dar to continue umpiring even after the 2019 World Cup.