NEW DELHI: Even as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reiterated its refusal to send its national team to India for next month’s T20 World Cup, a Bangladeshi official continues to officiate on Indian soil, underlining a striking contrast between administrative posturing and cricketing operations.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!During talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, the BCB once again conveyed its decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns and requesting that Bangladesh’s World Cup group matches be shifted to co-host Sri Lanka. The global event begins on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to play all four of their group games in India.
Despite this hardline stance, Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat is officiating in the ongoing three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand. After serving as TV umpire in the first ODI in Vadodara, Saikat is again part of the match officials’ team for the second ODI in Rajkot, as TV/third umpire again, just as he was involved in the series opener.The optics have raised eyebrows, especially given the backdrop of strained relations between the two boards. Tensions escalated earlier this month after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from his IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders, despite being bought for Rs 9.2 crore at the December auction. The decision triggered strong reactions in Dhaka and eventually led to Bangladesh banning the IPL broadcast locally.
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Against this backdrop, Saikat’s presence in India highlights the ICC’s independent appointment process for match officials. As per ICC regulations, umpires for ODIs — including the third umpire when DRS is in use — are appointed by the ICC from the Elite or International Panels and must be neutral, irrespective of bilateral tensions.Saikat, an ICC Elite Panel umpire since March 2024, has officiated in 32 Tests, 119 ODIs and 75 T20Is, and is currently also head of the BCB’s umpire education department. He, along with other Bangladeshi officials, is expected to officiate in the upcoming T20 World Cup as well.
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