Former Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar have pulled out of their broadcasting duties for the fifth and last ODI match between India and South Africa, soon after the International Cricket Council (ICC) withdrew umpire Aleem Dar from the remaining matches amidst security concerns.
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According to the ICC, they have made the decision following Monday's incident in Mumbai where a group of Shiv Sena activists stormed the Board of Control for Cricket in India headquarters, and threatened to prevent the umpire from standing in the fifth ODI on Sunday.
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"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 As such, he has been withdrawn and his replacement will be announced in due course," an ICC spokesman said.
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Aleem, a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, had officiated in the first three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and was also scheduled to umpire in the fourth and fifth ODIs in Chennai and Mumbai on 22 and 25 October, respectively.
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Earlier, Shiv Sena activists had barged into the BCCI office in Mumbai and disrupted a crucial meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to protest against the proposed bilateral series between India and Pakistan slated to be held later this year.
