Pakistan veteran Aleem Dar has stepped down from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires after officiating in a record number of international matches during his distinguished career.

The 58-year-old stood in 144 Tests and 222 ODIs – both world records – in addition to 69 T20Is.

Dar’s first international match as an Elite Panel umpire was in 2002 and a year later he stood in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Dar, who took up umpiring after playing first-class cricket in Pakistan, said he was honoured to have officiated international matches.

“It has been a long journey, but I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have had the pleasure and honour of umpiring the world over and what I have achieved is something I did not even dream of when I started in the profession.”

South Africa’s Adrian Holdstock and Pakistan’s Ahsan Raza have been added to the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.

© Agence France-Presse