Aleem Dar, a veteran Pakistani match official, has retired as an international umpire after serving on the Elite panel for 19 years. The former Pakistan first-class cricketer has officiated in a record 435 men's international matches and has been on the ICC Elite Panel since its inception in 2002. Dar has officiated in 144 Tests from 2003 to 2023, 222 ODIs, 69 T20Is, and 5 Women's T20Is during his illustrious career.
Dar thanked his colleagues over the years and said, "It has been a long journey, but I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have had the pleasure and honor of umpiring the world over, and what I have achieved is something I did not even dream of when I started in the profession." Dar also thanked the ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and his family for their support over the years.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice congratulated Dar on his successful career and said, "Aleem's contribution to international cricket and the ICC has been truly remarkable. Consistently elite performances over such a long period saw him enjoy enormous respect across all involved in international cricket."
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi also praised Dar's contribution to cricket and said, "Throughout his outstanding career, he earned worldwide appreciation and accolades through his work ethic, undivided commitment to the game, good decision-making, and excellent man-management skills. He will remain as one of the best and finest to have ever served on the elite panel."
Sethi also stated that the PCB will integrate Dar into their system to groom, mentor, and tutor young umpires to improve the quality of umpiring in their domestic cricket and produce umpires who can go on to represent Pakistan in international and elite panels.