The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s umpires committee dropped ICC panel umpire Sharafuddowlah Ibne Saikat for the ongoing National Cricket Championship
despite choosing all others for the competition.
Sharafuddowlah, who was suspended in October 2012 along with Nadir Shah following an Indian TV sting operation, was cleared on March 18 by the three-member panel of the BCB.
But hardly could he get enough support from the BCB on his return from wilderness, passing torrid time during the investigation period that put him along with his family members in great embarrassment.
After his return he had officiated in two under-19 games and was called to conduct a third-division league match raising quite a few eyebrows as it did not go well with his status.
Bangladesh have three ICC panel umpires – Enamul Haque Moni, Anisur Rahman and Sharafuddowlah – while the elite panel umpires are Sohel Gazi, Mahfizur Rahman, Masudur Rahman and Tanveer Ahmed.
‘He is not fit. During the Under -19 series against Sri Lanka he could not do the longer-version game,’ said Sailab Hossain, a member of the BCB umpires committee, on Wednesday.
‘There are seven ICC panel umpires from whom we had included six for the competition and I think that is fair,’ said Sailab.
Sharafuddowlah admitted that he was unwell during the Sri Lanka series but said unless he is given enough opportunity it would be difficult for him to get back his confidence.
‘I think my case is certainly different considering what I went thorough. If there is not enough match practice it would be very difficult to get back into the rhythm,’ said Sharafuddowlah.
-With New Age input
