Ahsan Raza replaces Aleem Dar in ICC Elite Panel of Umpires
Karachi, Mar 16: Pakistan's long-serving Test umpire, Aleem Dar has been replaced by countryman Ahsan Raza on the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Elite Panel of umpires.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday that Raza had been promoted to the ICC Elite Panel.
Raza, who had a second lease of life after being shot by militants during their attack on the team bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers and match officials in March, 2009 in Lahore, has served on the ICC International Panel of Umpires since 2010 and is the first to reach the 50 T20I-mark as an umpire.
Raza had to undergo life-saving surgery after the bullets damaged his lungs, but he returned to umpiring after a one-year break.
Overall, he has officiated in 72 T20Is, seven Tests and 41 ODIs.
Raza is the senior-most Pakistani umpire behind Aleem Dar, who has served on the Elite Panel since 2004.
Aleem officiated in a world-record 435 international matches, including a record 144 Tests, 222 ODIs, and 69 T20Is.
Aleem won the 'ICC Umpire of the Year award' for three successive years from 2009.
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Man arrested in UP's Auraiya for rape, murder of minor cousin on same day she tied rakhi on him
Auraiya: A 33-year-old man has been arrested in Auraiya for the alleged rape and murder of his 14-year-old cousin on the night of Raksha Bandhan, just hours after she had tied a rakhi on him.
According to police, the accused, identified as Surjeet, attempted to mislead investigators by staging the crime scene to look like a suicide. The incident occurred on Saturday night when Surjeet, reportedly in a state of heavy intoxication, went to his uncle's home where the victim lived. He is accused of sexually assaulting the sleeping teenager, killing her, and then hanging her body.
The victim's father discovered his daughter's body the next morning and alerted the authorities.
Officials immediately suspected foul play upon arriving at the scene. "Blood stains and other signs clearly indicated this was not suicide," stated Auraiya Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhijeet Shankar.
During the initial inquiry, Surjeet drew suspicion upon himself by aggressively answering questions that were intended for the victim's immediate family. A post-mortem examination subsequently confirmed that the minor had been sexually assaulted.
Following the forensic report, Surjeet was arrested. "He confessed to the crime during interrogation," SP Shankar confirmed.
