Pak vs SA: Aleem Dar to umpire 1st home test, Ahsan Raza to make test debut

The well-known Pakistani umpire, Aleem Dar is going to officiate the first-ever Test match at home soil as the Pak vs SA tests begin from 26th January.

Along with him, Ahsan Raza and Mohammad Javed Malik are all set to make Test debuts in umpiring as they have officiated 37 ODIs and 57 T20Is, 10 ODIs and 6 T20Is respectively. It is to mention that Javed is hired for playing control teams for both the tests. While the Asif Yaqoob-Rashid Riaz duo is going to be the third-fourth umpire in the Pak vs SA two-match test series.

Notably, Dar has umpired in as many as 132 Test matches. On getting a first chance to officiate a test at home soil, he says,

Aleem Dar: “It will definitely be an emotional moment for me to umpire in a Test involving Pakistan. It has been nearly a 17-year and 132-Test wait, but its about to be over. Like the players, the match officials also want to umpire in matches on home ground, something we achieve in white-ball cricket, but Test cricket remains the pinnacle format and I am delighted that I will be standing in the two Tests between two excellent sides.”

“For the three-match T20I series, Javed Malik will continue to be the match referee, while Aleem and Ahsan Raza will be the on-field umpires for the first match with Shozab Raza in the TV umpire’s box and Asif Yaqoob as the fourth umpire.

Shozab Raza and Asif Yaqoob will stand in the second T20I with Ahsan Raza and Rashid Riaz as third and fourth umpires, respectively, while Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz will be the on-field umpires for the third T20I with Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza as third and fourth umpires, respectively.” says PCB in a press release.

Pak vs SA: Aleem Dar, Ahsan Raza to umpire 1st home test

Aleem Dar who will officiate in his first-ever Test match at home "it will definitely be an emotional moment for me to umpire in a Test match involving Pakistan. It has been nearly a 17-year and 132-Test wait, but its about to be over" #PAKvSA #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) January 16, 2021

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