Following threats from the Maharashtra-based political outfit Shiv Sena, the ICC has decided to withdraw its umpire Aleem Dar from the ongoing ODI series between India and South Africa. Dar was supposed to officiate in the fourth and fifth ODI, scheduled in Chennai and Mumbai respectively. With political tensions between India and Pakistan increasing, the political outfit threatened with dire consequences if Dar, a Pakistani national was to officiate in the Mumbai ODI.
Earlier on Monday, activists from the same political party had stormed into the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai and had disrupted the scheduled meeting between PCB officials and key members of the BCCI. Such an act will not just deteriorate Indo-Pak cricket ties, but also India’s reputation in the global cricketing fraternity.
The ICC released a press statement, stating the withdrawal of Dar from the current ODI series. “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 withdrawing and his replacement will be announced in due course,” an ICC spokesman said.