- Fire at UN climate talks in Brazil leaves 13 with smoke inhalation |
- 5mmcfd gas to be added to national grid from Kailashtila gas field |
- ArmArmed Forces Day: Tarique's message draws on historic closeness |
- UNGA urges renewed int’l efforts for a resolution of Rohingya crisis |
- First National AI Readiness Assessment Report Published |
Bangladeshi umpire Saikat officiating in the Ashes
Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat, Bangladesh’s first ICC Elite Panel umpire, now has become the first Bangladeshi umpire to officiate in the Ashes too.
Sharfuddoula served as the television umpire during the opening test in Perth on Friday. He is scheduled to stand as an on-field umpire for the second test in Brisbane, the ICC confirmed.
A member of the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel since March 2024, Sharfuddoula has previously officiated in ODI and T20 World Cups, as well as the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
He gained international attention during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia last winter, drawing praise from former cricket greats Simon Taufel and Ricky Ponting for his decision-making.
His selection for the marquee series between Australia and England comes amid strict neutrality regulations.
According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald on Nov. 8, top-performing elite umpires from England and Australia were ineligible to officiate the series.
With other neutral officials occupied with series in New Zealand and India, the ICC selected Sharfuddoula alongside India’s Nitin Menon and South Africa’s Adrian Holdstock for the opening matches, reports UNB.
While Sharfuddoula secured the assignment, he ranked 12th among elite umpires regarding Decision Review System performance this year, having had 10 decisions overturned in 29 reviews prior to the Perth test.
Following the Brisbane test, officials Nitin Menon, Jeff Crowe, Ahsan Raza, and Chris Gaffaney are scheduled to oversee the remaining matches in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.