The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that it has withdrawn umpire Aleem Dar, former Pakistani first-class cricketer, from the remaining matches in the ongoing India versus South Africa series.
Dar, a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, had officiated in the first three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and was also scheduled to umpire in the fourth and fifth ODIs in Chennai and Mumbai on 22 and 25 October, respectively.
The decision was made by the ICC following Monday’s incident in Mumbai where a group of Shiv Sena activists stormed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office, 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 Aleem 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 As such, he has been withdrawn and his replacement will be announced in due course.
— Spokesperson, ICC
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)