Saikat to become first Bangladeshi umpire in a World Cup opener

Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat is poised to make history as the first Bangladeshi umpire to officiate at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, ICC confirmed on Wednesday.

The 47-year-old will take charge of the tournament opener between the USA and Canada in Dallas on June 7th, marking a significant milestone for Bangladesh in the world of cricket officiating, reports UNB.

Saikat, already a seasoned international umpire, has a wealth of experience under his belt. He stood in five matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023 and has been on the panel for two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2018.

For the opening match, Saikat will be partnering with the highly respected Richard Illingworth, a three-time recipient of the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year. Illingworth notably officiated the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia last year.

Earlier this year, Saikat achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi umpire to be included in the prestigious ICC Elite Panel of umpires.