Aleem Dar becomes Test cricket’s most experienced umpire

Aleem Dar has become Test cricket’s most experienced umpire. He broke Steve Bucknor’s record of most Tests as an umpire in the first match of the series between Australia and New Zealand, which began at Perth on Thursday.

The 51-year-old started his international career in 2000 during Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka. He has been a first-class cricketer before taking up a career in umpiring.

He stood in his first Test in Dhaka in 2003 during England’s tour of Bangladesh.

Dar has officiated in 207 ODIs and is only two matches behind the world record of 209 matches in that format, which is currently held by Rudi Koertzen of South Africa.

On this achievement, Dar said, “This is one milestone I had never thought of when I began my umpiring career”.

“It is a truly amazing feeling and a high point of my life when I take the field here in Australia, thousands of miles from where I started my international career at home in Gujranwala. Steve Bucknor (from the West Indies) was my idol and it is only sinking in now that I will have officiated in more Test matches than him.

In the nearly two decades of my international career, I have had the good fortune of watching some memorable matches and achievements like Brian Lara’s Test knock of 400 not out and South Africa’s epic chase of Australia’s score of 434 in an ODI in Johannesburg in 2006″, he further added.

Adrian Griffith, ICC senior manager for umpires and referees says that Dar had served with “distinction”.