Cricket
Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar - a true friend of India?
Updated : Feb 14, 2018, 06:18 PM IST
India created history of sorts on Tuesday by registering its first ODI series triumph in South Africa.
Virat Kohli's team have been dominant in the six-match series so far, taking an unassailable 4-1 lead with their win in Port Elizabeth.
While the success in this series has been due to a collective team effort, Tuesday's win seemed to have a healthy contribution from a person outside the playing XI. And that man was third umpire Aleem Dar.
The veteran Pakistani umpire's judgement came under the spotlight on two massive instances during the fifth ODI.
First, Dar gave Indian captain Kohli not-out on a stumping call just when India seemed to be running away with the contest in the first innings of the match. Although the talismanic right-hander didn't go on to add much to his score after getting the reprieve, many were upset at Dar's call. Viewers argued that Kohli was given not out despite the fact that no part of his foot was behind the line when he was stumped.
While Dar's call on the Kohli stumping wasn't really detrimental, as the Indian skipper didn't go on to do much damage, it was the 49-year-old third umpire's second big call that really turned the fifth ODI in the visitors' favour.
Chasing a moderate total of 275, South Africa were in control of proceedings with seasoned opener Hashim Amla batting with grit. They needed 111 runs with six wickets in hand before the start of the 35th over. A relatively comfortable proposition in today's power game.
However, that's when the tables turned drastically in India's favour. Amla was run-out trying to steal a quick single by an alert Hardik Pandya at mid-off. But was the veteran, anchoring the innings with a well-made 71 at the time, really out? Critics once again felt that the benefit of the doubt had been given to India, as Amla's bat had gone past the crease before the bail was uprooted.
While both decisions, Kohli's and Amla's, seem to be touch and go, Twitter was sure Dar had got it wrong on both instances.
Very few good things came out of Pakistan in last several decades. One is Aleem Dar.
— iMac_too (@iMac_too) February 13, 2018
ALEEM DAR is the best umpire in the world.
— SANATH (@Dude_Cricket) February 13, 2018
Aleem Dar bhai hai apna #INDvSA
— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) February 13, 2018
Benefit of doubt dono taraf Kohli ko de rahe hain aleem bhai #INDvsSA
— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) February 13, 2018
Don’t you think I should call Aleem Dar fucking biased? Kohli survived when It was about his stump out and Amla was given run out.
— Ali Hassan Cheema (@Alicheema334455) February 13, 2018
#INDvSA #SAvIND #INDvsSA #SAvsInd
— INDIयन Critics (@indi_critics) February 13, 2018
Thank you #AleemDar for giving two major decisions in India favor.
I think #ViratKohli promotion get Works pic.twitter.com/rnM6XUYOtg
Never expected such a dull umpiring from the experienced #AleemDar. That was tough to call decisions of the might @amlahash and you can't just give the #Batsman out. You give him the benefit of the doubt as he did in the Indian innings earlier #SAvIND #ODIs #ProteaFire @ICC
— Haddy (@haddymo) February 13, 2018
Yes. Bcci manipulated technology to throw up a spike when the ball passed the bat of kohli's and also aleem dar was paid to give everything in favor of India. There, I said it.
— SwingAndSeam (@swing_seam) February 14, 2018
Aleem Dar returning Kohli some favours is it? That was close! #INDvSA
— Sohini (@Mittermaniac) February 13, 2018
Aleem Dar Contribution in this match is more than #RohitSharma & Hardik Pandya.
— Arun Sharma (@arunn333) February 13, 2018
Silent hero of this match. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/JmPHc4eJ4Q
Lol the same Aleem Dar was the guy who didn’t gave the slip catch as out vs De Villiers in an IndvsSa match
— Nipun Nilakshana (@NipunNilakshana) February 13, 2018
Amla was out & Aleem Dar Given him out, Virat was also Out but Dar Didnt gave him out, is Dar looking for another tweet from Virat about Dar’s new restaurant ? #SAvIND @bhogleharsha @sanjaymanjrekar
— Prbath Neranja (@prbath_neranja) February 13, 2018
Not So Fair Decision By 3rd Umpire Aleem Dar
— Kishan Kumar (@iamkishank) February 13, 2018
When Kholi's Foot Is On The Line,He Is Given Not Out
Now For Amla When His Bat Is On The Line He Is Given Out#SAvIND #INDvSA
After Adnan Sami...Aleem Dar is going to be 2nd paki to get indian citizenship
— Drunk BATMAN (@Caped_Humor) February 13, 2018
Did Dar get it right on those two critical decisions? Would the result of the match have been different had South Africa gotten the benefit of the doubt on either or both calls? Your guess is as good as ours!