ICC Withdraws Pakistan Umpire Aleem Dar, Wasim Akram And Shoaib Akhtar Refuse to Commentate in Fifth ODI

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday withdrew Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar from officiating in the remaining two matches of the ongoing one-day series between India and South Africa. The decision came in the wake of Shiv Sena's protests forcing cancellation of talks between BCCI chief Shashank Manohar and Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan in Mumbai on Monday. (BCCI Cancels Meeting with PCB After Shiv Sainiks Protest)

TV commentators Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar also withdrew from the commentary team for the fifth ODI in Mumbai due to security concerns. According to sources, Akram and Akhtar pulled out on their own and their was no pressure from anyone as it was about threat perception. Both of them will return to Pakistan on Friday. (No official BCCI-PCB Meet in Delhi: Anurag Thakur)

Dar, a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, had officiated in the first three matches and was also scheduled to umpire in the fourth and fifth ODIs in Chennai and Mumbai on October 22 and 25, respectively. (Rajeev Shukla Condemns Shiv Sainiks Attack)

The ICC made the decision following Monday's incident in Mumbai where a group of Sena activists stormed the Board of Control for Cricket in India office, and threatened to prevent the umpire from standing in the fifth ODI on Sunday. Manohar and Shahryar were to discuss the resumption of the India-Pakistan cricket ties. (Pakistan May Boycott World T20 in India next year: Zaheer Abbas)

"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 As such, he has been withdrawn and his replacement will be announced in due course," an ICC spokesman said. (Ex-Pakistan advise to Stop Chasing India)

(With Inputs From Yusra Askari)