The ex-international umpire and one-time cricketer Aleem Dar is now on Pakistan’s men’s national cricket selectors list. This move is another feather in Dar’s impressive career hat. After wrapping up his role on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) elite umpire panel in 2023, Dar decided not to quit the cricket world.
Instead, he now takes charge of limited-overs games at the international venue. With Mohammad Yousuf’s resignation and Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq being replaced, the selection committee is witnessing some major changes. Now, Dar will join seasoned ex-cricketers like Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hasan Cheema. They will decide who gets to play for Pakistan’s men’s cricket.
Aleem Dar’s Transition from Umpiring to Selection
Pakistan’s national selection committee has welcomed Aleem Dar after a standout twenty-year umpiring career. He waved goodbye to his role on the ICC’s elite umpiring panel earlier this year with a final Test match in April 2023 between Bangladesh and Ireland. Dar’s tallied up an impressive 145 Test matches and 222 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) – a new all-time umpiring record. West Indies’ umpire Steve Bucknor held the previous record with 128 Tests.
Cricket knows Dar’s face well, for his umpiring prowess plus his enforcing of discipline and fairness in high-stakes games. Since 2002, his umpire career has earned awards and respect from players and onlookers. His wealth of cricketing understanding, first demonstrated as a first-class player and later as an elite umpire, will be a ripe resource for Pakistan’s national team selection.
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Pakistan’s Selection Committee Reshuffle
Aleem Dar is coming onboard, following a series of amendments in Pakistan’s selection team. He’ll join Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hasan Cheema – the PCB confirmed that. Mohammad Yousuf’s resignation sparked these changes; he quit just 10 days before they announced the new members! With Yousuf gone, there was only Asad Shafiq left from the old team – Hasan Cheema was there but, he couldn’t vote.
They’ve switched up the committee quite a bit recently, more after Pakistan’s early 2024 T20 World Cup exit. It spurred the removal of selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq. Now, they’ve cut off coaches’ feedback, all to clean-cut and de-clutter the selection process.
Aleem Dar’s Role in the New Selection Panel
Aleem Dar has a deep understanding of cricket and superb knowledge about player performances worldwide. These skills make him perfectly suited for his new job. He’ll be a part of the panel that makes picks for the international cricket teams of Pakistan. His hiring is seen as a move towards strengthening the committee after a challenging time for Pakistan’s cricket. Now, a number of skilled and seasoned cricket professionals are entrusted with Pakistan’s selection process.
Aaqib Javed, a seasoned coach, and Azhar Ali, a previous Test captain for Pakistan, will bring essential insights. Moreover, Asad Shafiq, famous for his achievements in Test cricket, and Hasan Cheema, a decision-making data analyst, complete the team. While Dar plans to step back from domestic umpiring after the current local season in Pakistan, it’s not known yet if he will start his new job before or after the season ends.
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Challenges for the New Selection Committee
Pakistan’s new committee has a big task ahead. Recently, the team’s performance has not been strong in global contests. Their low-ranking results from the 2024 T20 World Cup and their significant loss to England in Multan’s first test series, have placed them last in the World Test Championship. The committee’s mission? Find the best mix of players to boost Pakistan’s status as they gear up for important upcoming series. With the addition of Aleem Dar to the team, optimism is rising. His extensive knowledge of cricket, combined with a keen eye for recognizing skill and performance, should support Pakistan in reclaiming its competitive standing globally.
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Conclusion: A New Chapter for Aleem Dar and Pakistan Cricket
Aleem Dar joining Pakistan’s national team selector squad is big news. Both for Dar, a top umpire of the cricket world, and Pakistan’s cricket board. As he switches roles, he packs with him loads of hands-on knowledge. This can only mean good things for Pakistan’s cricket scene.
The revamped selector panel, boasting of Pakistan cricket’s big shots, is facing the challenge of team reshaping after several low points. Aleem Dar is leading this transformation and all eyes are on him! Will he bring back Pakistan’s winning streak?
Keep an eye out here for regular updates on Pakistan cricket and the progress of the new selector panel in this stimulating period. Don’t miss out on latest cricket news, in-depth analysis, and regular updates. Stick with our blog for all-round coverage.
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