DHAKA, March 28, 2024 (BSS)--Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat became the first Bangladeshi umpire to be named in the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires following the International Cricket Council’s annual review and selection process today.

 
Sharfuddoula was elevated from the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires by a selection panel consisting of ICC General Manager – Cricket, Wasim Khan (Chair), former player and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, retired New Zealand umpire Tony Hill, and consultant officiating expert Mike Riley, an ICC press release said.

 
Sharfuddoula has been on the International Panel since 2006 and his first international appointment was an ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Mirpur in January 2010.

 
He has been an on-field umpire in 10 Men’s Test Matches, 63 Men’s ODIs and 44 Men’s T20Is.  He has also featured on-field in 13 Women’s ODI matches and 28 Women’s T20Is.

 
Sharfuddoula, whose assignments include the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups in 2017 and 2021, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018, said he was excited at his inclusion in the Elite panel.

 
 “It is a great honour to be named on the ICC Elite Panel. To be the first from my country on the panel makes it extra special and I look forward to justifying the faith shown in me. I have had a fair bit of experience over the years and am ready for more challenging assignments," he said.

 
“I would like to thank the ICC and the BCB for backing me and my other colleagues for all their help and guidance. I would also like to thank my family and friends for standing by and supporting me.”

 
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said Sharfuddoula was rewarded for his consistent good umpiring.
 
“I would also like to congratulate Sharfuddoula for his inclusion on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, and to acknowledge his achievement of being the first umpire from Bangladesh to be selected on this panel. This is a well-deserved reward for many years of consistent performances in international matches and ICC tournaments," he said.