ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Watch - Aleem Dar Almost Loses His Head Courtesy Kieron Pollard's Straight Hit

Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar found himself in the firing line and was almost hit in the head by West Indies captain Kieron Pollard in his team’s T20 World Cup 2021 match against South Africa in Dubai on October 26, 2021.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma had placed a fielder almost straight behind the umpire in order to stop Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell from hitting the ball ramrod straight over the bowler’s head for boundaries. In the last over bowled by Dwaine Pretorius, Pollard had earned a boundary thanks to a ball that swerved in the air over Anrich Nortje’s head.

Bavuma replaced Nortje with taller Rassie van der Dussen at the position straight behind the umpire and Pollard smashed the next ball over the umpire’s head. However, the hit was low and furious and 52-year-old Aleem Dar showed great reflexes to hit the ground and avoid getting hit in his head.

However, he was hit, after Van der Dussen threw the ball after taking a low catch towards his direction and Dar wasn’t looking. Dussen raised his hands in apology and Dar was seen smiling and adjusting his sunhat as he walked towards his on-field partner to call for the third umpire to adjudge on the catch. 

West Indies Post 143/8 As South African Bowlers Make Merry

South African captain Temba Bavuma had won the toss and decided to field first. He had also revealed that shockingly, star batter and keeper Quinton de Kock had opted out of this match against West Indies, which was a crucial one, especially after the Proteas lost to Australia in their opening match.

While Evin Lewis made a quick-fire 56 in 35 balls with 6 sixes and 3 fours, Lendl Simmons’ glacially slow knock of 16 in 35 balls hampered the progress made by the other Windies batters, who were under pressure to score big as Simmons failed to hit even a single boundary or a six.

Nicholas Pooran and Chris Gayle both made 12 runs each, while captain Kieron Pollard contributed 26 runs in 20 balls as West Indies crawled to 143/8 in 20 overs, which despite being good, was still below-par total on this Dubai ground. Dwaine Pretorius picked 3/17 and Keshav Maharaj picked 2/24 for South Africa.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2021: I Still Have India As Favourites – Brett Lee

Watch – Aleem Dar Almost Loses His Head Courtesy Kieron Pollard’s Straight Hit: