Dar to make home Test umpiring debut

LAHORE: Aleem Dar will officiate in his first-ever Test at home, while on-field umpire Ahsan Raza and match referee Mohammad Javed Malik will also make their Test debuts as the Pakistan Cricket Board, on behalf of the International Cricket Council, Saturday confirmed match officials’ appointments for the two-match series between Pakistan and South Africa, which starts in Karachi on January 26.

Aleem Dar has umpired in a record 132 Tests since making his debut in 2003 in Dhaka. Ahsan has umpired in 37 ODIs and 57 T20Is to date. Javed Malik has refereed in 10 ODIs and six T20Is.

Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz will be the third and fourth umpires, respectively, while Javed Malik will lead the playing control team for both the Tests. The second Test will begin in Rawalpindi from February 4. 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 fourth umpire.