Sharfuddoula becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to be included in the ICC Elite Panel
Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid became the first from his country to be named in the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
Sharfuddoula's appointment was confirmed following the International Cricket Council’s annual review and selection process.
The decision to elevate him from the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires was taken by a selection panel comprising 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.
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The 47-year-old has been a part of the International Panel since 2006; his first international appointment coming in 2010 when he officiated an ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Mirpur.
Sharfuddoula has been a trailblazer in many respects. He was the first Bangladesh umpire to stand in a ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. In all, he officiated five matches in last year’s Cricket World Cup in India. He also stood in the exciting Brisbane Test between Australia and West Indies, thus, becoming just the second Bangladesh umpire to have officiated as a neutral umpire in a Test.
In all, 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. Besides appearing in the aforementioned Men’s Cricket World Cup, he also stood in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 and 2022 and officiated the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018.
Sharfuddoula expressed his excitement at the appointment and looks forward to live up to the backing, “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.
“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 also extended his congratulations to Sharfuddoula,
“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.”
There was also a change in the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. Their number has been reduced to six from seven. Chris Broad is not included in the panel.
Broad, who had been on the panel since 2003, has refereed 123 Test Matches, 361 ODIs and 135 T20Is, as well as 15 Women’s T20Is. He officiated in four ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, four ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, and two ICC Women’s T20 World Cups.
Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees: David Boon (Australia), Jeff Crowe (New Zealand), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), Andrew Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Richie Richardson (West Indies), Javagal Srinath (India).
Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand), Michael Gough (England), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Nitin Menon (India), Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Joel Wilson (West Indies).