Aleem Dar, who is one of the most famous umpires in the history of international cricket, recently recalled the saddest day of his life. He said that the demise of his seven-month-old daughter was kept secret from him by his wife and other family members.
During his conversation with a Pakistan channel, the 56-year-old said his family decided not to disclose the news to him as he was umpiring in the 2003 ODI World Cup.
“It was the start of my career as an ICC panel umpire, and it was a big tournament for me. The family members knew that if I came to know about the death of my daughter, I would come back to Pakistan,” Dar said.
He was hurt when the news was revealed, and he termed it the saddest day of his life.
“I had no idea for a month, and I came to know about it when a Pakistani man came to offer his condolences to me in Johannesburg.
“It was a big shock, and I informed the ICC and returned home,’ he added.
Aleem called up his wife, who started crying over the phone.
“My father had urged the media friends to refrain from publishing the story.’
Dar officiated in 145 Tests, 232 ODIs, and T20Is in a career spanning from 2000 to 2023.
Leave a Reply