ICC pulls out Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar from India-South Africa series
The 47-year-old was due to officiate in the remaining two matches of the one-day series in Chennai and Mumbai.
The International Cricket Council on Monday decided to withdraw Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar from officiating in the ongoing India-South Africa cricket series. The announcement came hours after the Shiv Sena stormed the Mumbai office of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and protested against the resumption of cricketing ties with Pakistan. BCCI president Shashank Manohar was scheduled to meet Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan in Mumbai on Monday, but the meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday in Delhi.
The ICC said in a statement, "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 As such, he has been withdrawn and his replacement will be announced in due course."
Former Pakistani pace bowlers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar also withdrew from the commentary team for the fifth and final one-day match of the series, scheduled to be played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, citing security concerns.