The T20 World Cup 2024 will kick off on June 2. The umpiring in the WC has always been elite. How many Pakistani umpires are there this time?
With the retirement of Aleem Dar, the living legend, before the T20 World Cup 2024, will there be any famous Pakistani umpires in the Mega Event taking place from the day after tomorrow? The answer is yes.
Three Pakistani Umpires are taking part in the T20 World Cup 2024, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The names of those umpires are given below:
- Ahsan Raza
- Asif Yaqoob
- Rashid Riaz
All of them have been in the arena for over a decade. They have experienced all the highs and lows on and off the field. All of them possess a bundle of experience behind them, so ICC has announced that they have their place at the T20 World Cup 2024. Let’s have a look at their stats:
Ahsan Raza
After retiring from the game, Ahsan Raza, a wicketkeeper and tail-ender batsman, transitioned to umpiring. He made his debut as an international reserve official during the 2008–09 Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka series. On the third day of the second Test, he was on his way to the Gaddafi Stadium when he was shot in the back by a terrorist attack that targeted the Sri Lankan team, leaving him gravely injured.
Career Stats
Tests: 22
ODI’s: 72
T20I: 100
WC ODI’s: 12
WC T20I’s: 22
Asif Yaqoob
Asif Yaqoob was born on November 11, 1973, in Sargodha. He was the top umpire for Pakistan after Ahsan and Aleem. The 50-year-old has so far played 175 games to his name as an umpire. Asif’s ODI debut was on March 27, 2019, in Abu Dhabi.
Career Stats
Tests: 4
ODI’s: 25
T20I: 35
WC ODI’s: 21
WC T20I’s: 15
Rashid Riaz
He was born on Feb 27, 1976, in Chiniot, a small city in Pakistan near Faisalabad. He officiated in his first T20I match, between Pakistan and Australia, on 28, 2018. His first ODI match as an umpire between Pakistan and Australia was on 29, 2019.
Career Stats
Tests: 1
ODI’s: 18
T20I: 39
WC ODI’s: 16
WC T20I’s: 13
Young, intelligent umpire growth in the domestic circuit is still a top priority for the PCB, which is led by current Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. With the help of this strategic vision, the umpiring department will be brought to new levels of perfection, guaranteeing Pakistan’s continued supply of elite officials for the world of international cricket.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan vs. England T20 World Cup Final.