Icc awards 2011: Dar named best umpire again

Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has won the David Shepherd Trophy for the ICC Umpire of the Year for the third year running. He beat competition from Steve Davis, Ian Gould and five-time winner Simon Taufel, ESPN reported. Dar, 43, officiated in five Tests and 13 ODIs during the voting period, including the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka. Widely regarded for his umpiring standards, Dar was voted to the award by the 10 Full Member captains as well as the eight-man elite panel of match referees. He accepted his award from ICC Hall of Fame 2011 inductee Alan Davidson. “It’s a great honour and I’m thankful to everyone at the ICC and also my colleagues on the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires along with the Pakistan Cricket Board,” Dar said. “I’d like to also thank all my family for all their support since I’m away nearly eight months of the year umpiring.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th,  2011.