Aleem Dar withdrawn from India v England Test series due to threats from ultra nationalist RW group!
Oct 30, 2016 at 2:24 PM
Geopolitical tensions in India have adversely affected cricket yet again, as the upcoming test series between India and England has dealt a major blow. Aleem Dar, the veteran umpire on the ICC’s elite panellist, has been withdrawn by the ICC from officiating in the much-awaited test series, which commences from 9th November in Rajkot. It is believed that Dar’s Pakistani origins have been a reason for withdrawing the respected umpire from the series.
Tensions between India and the neighboring Pakistan have risen considerably in the last couple of months. In order to ensure, that nationalist elements in India do not hamper the smooth functioning of the series, the move to withdraw Dar was taken. Dar, in October 2015, was replaced at the last moment, when he was supposed to officiate in an India – South Africa ODI at Mumbai.
Simon Wilde, a British journalist, tweeted the news surrounding Dar’s withdrawal from the 5 match test series between India and England. Below, is the tweet.
Aleem Dar, the Pakistan umpire, is to be withdrawn from India-England series on security grounds, as possible target of local nationalists
— Simon Wilde (@swildecricket) October 30, 2016
Recently, Anurag Thakur, President of the BCCI, had clearly stated that there would be no cricketing ties with Pakistan unless the diplomatic issues between the two nations were resolved.
“There are no tests or bilateral matches scheduled for this year with Pakistan and the question of playing against Pakistan today does not arise,” said Thakur. “We have defeated Pakistan in three wars and all the world cup cricket matches. We can still maul Pakistan. But it is important to isolate it globally,” the BCCI boss was quoted saying a few weeks ago.