Bangladeshi umpire in India-New Zealand match. (Photo- PTI/GETTY)
TV Umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat in IND vs NZ 1st ODI: The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand started at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. This series is going to be very exciting, because the top-2 teams of ODI ranking are face to face on the field. The initial match also started in a very spectacular manner. But everyone’s attention was drawn by an umpire, whose name is Sharfuddoula Saikat. Sharafuddaula Saikat, who is a Bangladeshi umpire, got the responsibility of TV umpire in this match.
Bangladeshi umpire in India-New Zealand match
Political and diplomatic tension between India and Bangladesh is at its peak. In such a situation, everyone was surprised to see Sharafuddaula Saikat umpiring in India. Within no time, this became a big issue on social media and fans started raising questions on BCCI. However, the decision on umpires is not taken by BCCI but by ICC. Only umpires from the ICC Elite Panel get the opportunity to officiate in international matches. In ODI and T20I matches, at least one elite panel umpire is appointed by the ICC for the series. Bangladeshi umpire Sharafuddaula Saikat is also a part of this ICC elite panel.
How are umpires selected in a series?
The ICC takes the final decision on the umpires involved in the series and announces the appointment of the umpires. This process is based on performance, experience, availability and being a neutral umpire. Match referees are also selected from the elite panel by ICC itself. The third umpire (TV umpire) is also usually neutral from the ICC Elite Panel or the International Panel, due to which Bangladeshi umpire Sharafuddaula Saikat has been made the third umpire in the India-New Zealand ODI series. The host board (such as BCCI) can appoint only the fourth umpire and home umpires in local matches, but the important umpires are selected by the ICC.
Heated atmosphere between BCCI-BCB
Recently, after the decision to drop Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026, Bangladesh has banned the telecast of IPL in its country. Also, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested the ICC to play all its matches in the T20 World Cup to be held in February 2026 in Sri Lanka instead of India, as it is concerned about the safety of the players. In such an environment, it is surprising for many people that a Bangladeshi umpire played an important role in the India-New Zealand match in India.