London, Jun 30 (IANS): International Cricket Council (ICC) has honoured Pakistan's Aleem Dar for becoming only the seventh umpire to officiate in 150 One-day Internationals when he took the field for the five-match series opener between England and Australia at Lord's here.
To mark the achievement, ICC match referee Javagal Srinath handed over a memento to the umpire at the post-match presentation ceremony Friday.
The 44-year-old, who won the David Shepherd Trophy for the third successive year by winning the ICC Umpire of the Year award at the ICC Awards here in 2011, made his umpiring debut in February 2000 when he umpired in an ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Gujranwala.
After being promoted to the elite panel in 2002, he officiated in his first Test between Bangladesh and England in Dhaka in October 2003.
Aleem has supervised the finals of the World Cup 2007 and 2011, and also umpired in the 2003 edition. Besides 150 ODIs, Aleem has also stood in 74 Tests which makes him the sixth most experienced official on the circuit.
Reflecting on his achievement, Aleem said: "I am honoured and humbled to join the exclusive 150-ODI club which includes some of the most respected gentlemen in this noble profession. To get to the landmark at the home of cricket in a match featuring the oldest opponents in the sport makes this occasion more memorable."
Most appearances by umpires (as of 30 June 2012):
Umpire Span ODIs
Rudi Koertzen 1992-2010 209
Steve Bucknor 1989-2009 181
Daryl Harper 1994-2011 174
David Shepherd 1983-2005 172
Simon Taufel 1999- to date 172
Billy Bowden 1995- to date 170
Aleem Dar 2000- to date 150