Dharmasena preferred over Aleem Dar to stand in World Cup final

Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena has been preferred over Pakistan’s Aleem Dar to stand in the 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday.

However, Aleem Dar will perform the role of the fourth umpire in the World Cup final. Dar had previously officiated in two World Cup finals (2007 and 2011) and was awarded ICC umpire of the year for three consecutive years (2009, 2010 and 2011).

Dharmasena had found himself involved in a controversial incident with England opening batsman Jason Roy during the second World Cup semi-final between England and Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday.

The Surrey opener had made 85 to set England on their way to an eventual eight-wicket win against Australia, when he was given out caught behind down the legside by Dharmasena.

Roy requested a review but England had already used their lone review of the innings.

Nevertheless, Dharmasena incorrectly signalled for a review, with Australia pointing out his mistake.

Roy, his arms spread wide, clearly believed Dharmasena should have signalled a wide delivery instead and the audibly furious batsman had to be ushered away from the crease by square-leg umpire Marais Erasmus.

Replays suggested he did not touch the ball.

The England star, 28, was fined 30 percent of his match fee for showing dissent and received two demerit points from match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

That took his tally for the World Cup to three but match bans only kick in when a player collects four demerit points in total, leaving Roy available to feature on Sunday as England bid to win the World Cup for the first time.

South Africa's Erasmus will be the other on-field umpire in the final, with experienced Sri Lankan official Madugalle once again the match referee.

But in a change from the Edgbaston line-up, Australia's Rod Tucker will be the third umpire instead of New Zealand's Chris Gaffaney, who was ruled out of officiating in the showpiece match once the Black Caps beat India in Wednesday's first semi-final at Old Trafford.