Sharfuddoula Ibne Shaid Saikat, a cricketer-turned-umpire from Bangladesh, has secured a significant milestone by becoming one of the 20 match officials selected for the league round of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.

Saikat’s appointment as an umpire marks a historic moment, as he is the first Bangladeshi to officiate in a Men’s ODI World Cup. He will serve as the fourth umpire in the opening match between England and New Zealand, scheduled for October 5th in Ahmedabad.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has chosen a total of 16 umpires for the 13th edition of the tournament. This esteemed group comprises all 12 members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and four individuals from the ICC Emerging Umpire Panel, including Sharfuddoula Ibne Shaid Saikat.

The elite panel features experienced umpires, including those who officiated in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 final at Lord’s. This list includes Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, and Rod Tucker. Aleem Dar, the fourth umpire from the 2019 final, is the only one missing from the Elite Panel, as he stepped down earlier this year.

In addition to the umpires, the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees will be represented by a group of former international cricketers. The quartet includes Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson, and Javagal Srinath.

Javagal Srinath will officiate the tournament opener, a highly anticipated clash between the finalists of the previous edition, England and New Zealand, on October 5th in Ahmedabad. Standing alongside him as umpires will be Nitin Menon and Kumar Dharmasena, with Paul Wilson taking on the role of TV umpire and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shaid Saikat serving as the fourth umpire.