Shahid Saikat to become first Bangladeshi umpire at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

Shahid Saikat is poised to make history as the first Bangladeshi umpire to officiate at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He will stand in the tournament opener between the USA and Canada.

Saikat, 47, has a distinguished career, having officiated five matches at last year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. He has also been on the panel for two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2018.

Joining Saikat on the opening night will be Richard Illingworth, who recently won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year for the third time in 2023. Illingworth also officiated the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia last year.

The match in Dallas will see Richie Richardson serving as the match referee, with Sam Nogajski as the TV umpire and Langton Rusere as the fourth umpire.

Nogajski is among five umpires making their senior men’s tournament debut in June. Rashid Riaz will make his first appearance in the second match of the tournament, between Papua New Guinea and West Indies in Guyana. This match will also be significant for match referee Andy Pycroft, who will officiate his 150th T20I.

Jayaraman Madanagopal’s debut will come later that day when Namibia and Oman face off in Barbados.

Allahudien Paleker will officiate his first on-field group game between the USA and Pakistan, while fellow debutant Asif Yaqoob will join Nitin Menon for England’s match against Scotland.

The eagerly awaited Group A clash between India and Pakistan on June 9 will have Illingworth and Rodney Tucker as the on-field umpires.

Experienced officials such as Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Richard Kettleborough, and Joel Wilson will return for more World Cup action, with appointments for the knockout stages to be announced later.