LAHORE – Although Pakistan cricket team failed to play in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a Pakistani umpire did play a crucial role in the final showdown in India’s financial hub.
Aleem Dar, who has won the ICC Umpire of the Year award for two times, was as cool as a cucumber during the tournament and his umpiring intellect earned him a huge respect among the participating cricketers. With the new Decision Review System (DRW) taking its first flight in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, pressure surged to an all-time high on the ICC Elite Panel umpires, including some of the best of the business.
A number of their decisions were challenged during the tournament, not only by the ICC Test-playing nations but also by the cricketing minnows, and a lot of these challenges were successful, forcing International Cricket Council (ICC) to accept the utility of technology in giving the game of cricket a fair look.
With umpires like Simon Taufel, Ian Gould, Billy Doctrove and Billy Bowden getting their decisions turned down by the DRS, the Pakistani umpire maintained a 100 percent success rate during the all-important ICC mega event. Aleem Dar was faultless and absolute in his decision making.
None of his decisions could be turned down by the use of technology and cricketers on most occasions refrained from taking chances against his calls.
