Challenges come from innovations: Aleem Dar

MIRPUR: The Pakistan cricket team may have made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent times, but Aleem Dar, their representative on ICC's Elite Panel of umpires, has quietly replaced Australia's Simon Taufel as the best umpire in the world. Two successive 'Best Umpire' awards (2009 and 2010) have only bolstered Dar's reputation as a no-nonsense official on a cricket field. 

Dar, who had stood in the 2007 World Cup final in the Caribbean along with Steve Bucknor and was suspended by the ICC for misinterpreting the playing conditions, has clearly put that embarrassment behind him and is looking forward to standing in the final for the second-time running. 

Dar, who is here to officiate in the Bangladesh-Ireland game on Friday, spoke about the increasing use of technology, the challenges before on-field umpires, the games players play and a whole lot more, in the course of an exclusive interview. Excerpts: 

How is officiating in the World Cup different from supervising in other high-profile series? 

It is not different at all. I believe an umpire should approach a game with the same focus irrespective of whether he is officiating in a Test match or ODI or T20 or a first-class match; whether technology is being used or not being used. The WC being a big stage, there is some added pressure on the umpires as well, especially in the knock-out stage where a human error can affect a team's chances. 

With the ICC embracing technology big-time, don't you think the role of on-field umpires is being undermined? 

Personally, I am quite happy to see cricket embrace more and more technology, provided it has been tried and tested. It is however, important that the technology is applied uniformly and consistently across all matches and in all three formats of the game. It is important to arrive at the correct decision,, if not all the time, but on most occasions. 

Can you please explain this new fad where umpires check with the third umpire about no-ball before a dismissed batsman walks off the field? 

I had suggested this at an ICC workshop few years back. Let me explain this. There are many bowlers, especially pacers like Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Ishant Sharma, who land their front foot on the popping crease all right, but tend to drag it– often as many as 2-3 inches – across the line. As the chalk-mark gets blurred after the very first ball is delivered, umpires find it hard to watch a bowler's front foot till the very last and refocus on how and where he lands the ball on the pitch. This results in lot of errors. The ICC saw merit in my suggestion and has given the umpires the freedom to cross-check with the TV umpire if they had any doubt about where the bowler's front foot had landed. 

With cricket taking newer shapes, what are the challenges before umpires? 

The challenges come from innovation. With batsmen and bowlers being forced to innovate, umpires too have to make adjustments to be on the ball. For example, when a batsman reverse sweeps or indulges in a switch hit, umpires must be able to quickly refocus to determine whether the ball had hit the pad in line keeping in mind the changed 'stance' of the batsman. 

Does excessive appealing bother you? 

Look, I believe bowlers have a right to appeal and I respect that. Of course, there are times when some bowlers overdo it. It often pays to have a quiet word with them. If they still persist, the Match Referee usually gets into the picture. 

What goes into the making of a good umpire? 

A good umpire is someone who makes fewer mistakes. Even if he has made a bad decision in a game, a good umpire will quickly shut it out and carry on so that he doesn't make another one and lose control of the proceedings.

Read more: Challenges come from innovations: Aleem Dar - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/interviews/Challenges-come-from-innovations-Aleem-Dar/articleshow/7558449.cms#ixzz1Et4YrkKU

‘Pakistan team should keep up the same momentum against Sri Lanka’

The cricket fans of the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad have said Thursday that Pakistan should keep up the same momentum against Sri Lanka as they beat Kenya on February 23.Sana Khalid, a telecom company employee, said that Pakistan should beat Sri Lanka with a margin in order to build up the teams confidence and should maintain their winning streak in the mega event.

Bushra Ansari, a school teacher told APP Thursday that our team is one of the best in the world and by beating Kenya in their first match with a big margin they have proved that they are no more less dangerous as compared to the other teams.
The fans also expressed confidence of Pakistan’s chances to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup saying our team has the fire and aggression necessary to go all the way.
Imran Khan, a student in National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, told APP that Pakistan’s chances of reaching till the semis in the World Cup is guaranteed only if they play like a unit without any grouping in the team.
“I don’t know why. It’s just a gut feeling. Our team faced so much criticism for the trio - Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamer - and then the delay in naming the captain. I just think that this time our team will do something big in the mega  event.”
Ayaz Akhbar, a student of Foundation University, Islamabad said,”Pakistan team is an unpredictable one. It just needs unity among them and then no one can stop Pakistan from winning the World Cup.”
Rameez Hussain, a student of Allama Iqbal Open University,Islamabad said, “I believe our team can go all the way to win the mega event. Our chances are as good as that of India, Australia.
“Even if Pakistan loses to Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, Pakistan can reach quarterfinals beating the minnows. From there onwards, it’s just three games and Pakistan team has the potential to win the three games in a row.”
Jamil Ismail, a student of Rawalpindi College of Commerce said that, “The team is going to be more controversial since the ICC verdict against the trio verdict has hurt its moral and the international media will have their eyes on them with each step they will take.”
Junaid Akram, a student of Pakistan Institute of Modern Studies (PIMS), Rawalpindi said, “As Pakistanis we surely want our country to win and we will pray for that but apart from 
Pakistan, Australia is also a good team too”. 
“They have won five out of six games against England.However one cannot rule out Sri Lanka and South Africa. From quarterfinals, it can be anybody’s World Cup,” he added.

Waqar shouldn''t question Shoaib''s fitness openly: Moin

Karachi, Feb 23 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Moin Khanhas criticised coach Waqar Younis for questioning the fitnessof pacer Shoaib Akhtar in front of the media, saying that suchstatements will create problems in the team in the ongoingWorld Cup.

"I am surprised at Waqar''s statement on Shoaib that he isstill half-fit and working hard to gain match-fitness. Whatdoes he mean by that? Even if Shoaib is not fully fit thecoach is not supposed to say these things about a player at amedia conference," Moin said.

Moin, who was a member of Pakistan''s 1992 World Cupwinning team and was also in the side which made the final inthe 1999 even,t said he had played lot of cricket alongsideWaqar.

"We played a lot of cricket together but after he becamecaptain in 2002 there was a clear change in his attitude andthis led to groupings within the team in the 2003 World Cup,"Moin recalled.

"Younis Khan, Shoaib, Shahid Afridi were members of that2003 World Cup squad and the memories of that event wouldstill be fresh in their minds that is why I am concerned theway Waqar has talked about the fitness of Shoaib," he added.

Moin said that it was most unfortunate that since theteam left for the World Cup, the captain, coach and managerhave constantly talked about the fitness of Shoaib.

"I don''t know the reason for highlighting the fitnessissues of Shoaib in the media. It would have been better ifthey had kept it away from the media and discussed it withShoaib in private given he is not fully fit," the formerwicketkeeper-batsman said.

"I just feel that if the team management had anyreservations over the fitness of Shoaib why was he selected inthe World Cup squad in the first place. Why take such a bigrisk for such a big event? Now is the time for Waqar and thecaptain and manager to support and back Shoaib in the mediaand not criticise his fitness." PTI Cor PM

Captain Afridi demands more from Pakistan

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes his team still have shortcomings to overcome ahead of their crunch World Cup clash against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan overcame early hiccups to post a challenging 317-7 against Kenya before Afridi took centre stage with 5-16 to bundle out their out-classed opponents for 112 to record a 205-victory in Wednesday's opener.

"It?s a good start but we shouldn?t be 100 percent satisfied, there is a lot of work ahead of us still," said the captain.

Pakistan lost openers Mohammad Hafeez (nine) and Ahmed Shahzad (one) inside seven overs with just 16 on the board against Kenya.

"Whether in batting or bowling you need a positive start. But since the ball was sticking to the pitch a little, it wasn?t easy. I hope my openers don't repeat those mistakes," said Afridi.

Younis Khan (50) and Kamran Akmal (55) put on a solid 98 for the third wicket, before Misbah-ul-Haq (65) and Umar Akmal (71) provided a flourish during their quickfire 118-run stand, racking up 71 in the batting powerplay.

Afridi praised his four half-century makers.

"That's what required of the senior players and combined with three seniors, Umar played a beautiful knock and proved his potential after a long time," said Afridi of 21-year-old batsman, playing his first World Cup match.

Afridi justified his decision to bat first.

"It wasn?t in my mind whether to give the bowlers or batters first opportunity, just that we needed to win the first match because of upsets in the past," said Afridi, who had vowed to avoid upsets like Pakistan suffered against Ireland in the 2007 World Cup.

"We wanted to make a big total, so when we went in I told the team that we should play like we were defending only 120, because our tough matches are ahead of us," said Afridi.

The skipper shrugged off his own five-wicket display.

"It's nice to be amongst the wickets, and I give the wickets to my team. This will also be very important in the tough games like against Sri Lanka and Australia.

"We are a dangerous team. We know how important the next game is and Sri Lanka is the best team in their own conditions.

"We will go in with the same strength and deliver as best as we can," said Afridi of his team's next match against the co-hosts in Colombo on Saturday.

"It was good intensity from the players. In practice we have been very focused and positive and what we do there, we deliver in the games as well."

JOSH-e-JUNOON by Ali Azmat (new song)