Dar named Umpire of the Year at the ICC Awards

Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar wins Umpire of the Year award for second time in a row.

Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar won the Umpire of the Year award for the second time in a row at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards held in Bangalore.

Dar, who has officiated in 60 Tests, 133 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 18 Twenty20s, is one of two Pakistanis on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires together with Asad Rauf.

The 42-year-old was voted by captains of the 10 Full Members of the ICC and the eight-man elite panel of match referees for the period August 24 last year to August 10 this year.

“I think the fact I’m still playing cricket in Pakistan makes me a good umpire,” said Dar. “The last four times I’ve played, I scored centuries so I definitely think that has helped. I’m obviously
very honoured to have been named the winner a second year in a row.”

Tendulkar named Cricketer of the Year

Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who headed the nomination list for three major awards, was named the Cricketer of the Year as he edged out Virender Sehwag, Hashim Amla and England off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Sehwag is Test player of the Year

Indian opener Sehwag, who scored 1,282 runs in 10 matches at an average of 85.46 during the year, was named the Test Player of the Year and was also part of the Test Team of the Year, led by teammate MS Dhoni. Other members of the team include Kumar Sangakkara, Swann, Tendulkar, Amla, Simon Katich, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, James Anderson and Doug Bollinger.

De Villiers wins ODI player of the Year award

AB de Villiers won the ODI Player of the Year award as he edged out Tendulkar, Ryan Harris and Shane Watson for top honours. Meanwhile, New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum won the award for the best Twenty20 performance of the year for his unbeaten 116 against Australia in February while his team won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award.

England fast-bowler Steven Finn, who has taken 32
wickets in eight Tests since making his debut against Bangladesh in March this year, won the Emerging Player of the Year award.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2010.