Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoulah Ibne Shahid Shaikat, who was cleared of any wrongdoing following an Indian television sting operation, is set to return to international cricket with the Women’s World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dublin next week.
A total of six umpires from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were either banned for different lengths of time or sidelined by their respective boards after being caught in the same sting operation carried out in July-August 2012.
That list includes Bangladeshi Nadir Shah, who was handed a 10-year ban by the Bangladesh Cricket Board in March.
Sharfuddoulah rejected the approach made to him during the sting and reported it to the Bangladesh authorities. He was subsequently cleared by an inquiry committee formed by the BCB.
This will be his first ICC assignment after four years on the international panel. He has stood in five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international, and has also acted as the third umpire in Test matches, all as a BCB appointee.
His umpiring career also includes a visit to the West Indies in March 2011, where he officiated in three first-class matches.
‘I had a difficult period last season and now it’s a bit of a relief,’ Sharfuddoulah told New Age, ‘It’s my first ICC assignment, naturally I am happy.
‘I believe this is a new beginning as it gives me encouragement to look forward.’
The ICC Women’s World Twenty20 qualifying round, which is scheduled to run from July 23 to July 31, will involve teams from Canada, Ireland, Japan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. Three teams will qualify from the event for the Women’s World Twenty20, which will be held in Bangladesh in March-April 2014, alongside the men’s event.
-With New Age input
