ICC withdraws umpire Dar from rest of India-SA series

DUBAI/MUMBAI: In a major embarrassment to India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has withdrawn umpire Aleem Dar, a Pakistan national, from the remaining one-day games of the India versus South Africa series following Shiv Sena’s attack at the Indian cricket board’s office.

“The ICC announced that it has withdrawn Dar from the remaining matches in the ongoing India versus South Africa series,” an ICC release said.

Dar, a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, had officiated in the first three One-day Internationals and was also scheduled to umpire in the fourth and fifth ODIs in Chennai and Mumbai on October 22 and 25, respectively.

Dar was the umpire in the 2011 World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium. He had also umpired the India versus Australia ODI on October 17, 2007.

“The ICC has made the decision following Monday’s incident in Mumbai where a group of extremists stormed the Board of Control for Cricket in India offices, and threatened to prevent the umpire from standing in the fifth ODI on Sunday.

“Under the present circumstances, it will be unreasonable to expect from Dar that he will be able to perform his duties to the best of his abilities. As such, he has been withdrawn and his replacement will be announced in due course,” an ICC spokesman said.

Speaking to HT on Monday afternoon, Sena MP Anil Desai said: “We will not be opposing Aleem Dar’s umpiring in the upcoming One-day International. These are unfounded rumours.”