Aleem Dar wins ICC Umpire-of-the-Year Award

LAHORE Pakistans umpire Aleem Dar was named ICC Umpire of the Year at the LG ICC Awards in Johannesburg tonight. Dar, who is 41 and from Pakistan, was voted to this award by the 10 Full Member captains as well as the eight-man Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, based on his decision statistics over the last 12 months. I am very pleased to get this award, Dar sid. Thanks to the PCB and ICC, as well as my friends and family and of course my wife, who I have to leave for long periods of time. Normally I am quite calm and so the pressure is not big for me. It is important to stay cool and if you make a mistake you cant let it get to you. You have to concentrate all the time. Dar, who made his international debut as an umpire in 2000, joined the Elite Panel in 2004. He beat strong competition from his colleagues Asad Rauf, Tony Hill and five-time ICC Umpire of the Year Simon Taufel. In the voting period of these awards, Dar stood in seven Tests and eight ODIs, as well as the World Twenty20 in England. It is the first time he has received an ICC award and upon collecting the trophy from ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, Dar said: I am very pleased to get this award. Thanks to PCB and ICC as well as my friends and family and of course my wife, who I have to leave for long periods of time. Normally I am quite calm and so the pressure is not big for me. It is important to stay cool and if you make a mistake you cant let it get to you. You have to concentrate all the time. Dar beat off strong competition from his colleagues on the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires Asad Rauf, Tony Hill and five-time ICC Umpire of the Year Simon Taufel. Dar, who made his international debut as an umpire in 2000, joined the Emirates Elite Panel in 2004. In the voting period of these awards Dar stood in seven Tests and eight ODIs, as well as the ICC World Twenty20 in England, where he was an on-field umpire in four of the matches, including the semi-final between Sri Lanka and West Indies. The Umpire of the Year was one of 11 individual and team honours handed out during the ICC Awards. Based on the period between 13 August 2008 and 24 August 2009, the LG ICC Awards 2009 - presented in association with FICA - take into account performances by players and officials in a remarkable period for the game. That period includes such high-profile events as the ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England, the ICC Womens World Cup 2009 in Australia and the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 in South Africa, as well as several bilateral Test and ODI series. The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its sixth year and this year is being held in Johannesburg to coincide with the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006), Johannesburg (2007) and Dubai (2008). The PCB should have announced cash prize for the umpire who has made the nation proud. He also deserve atleast congratulatory messages from the President and PM.