As Bangladesh’s national team battles inconsistency, one figure is quietly standing out — not a cricketer, but an umpire.
Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat, now part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, has been delivering steady and accurate performances on some of the biggest stages in Test cricket.
His most recent assignment — the Edgbaston Test between England and India — turned heads again. During the match, ten of his decisions went to review. Three fell under “umpire’s call,” two were overturned, and five stood. That’s a hit rate of 75 percent — a figure that lines up with, or even edges past, several seasoned names in the elite umpiring circuit.
Indian cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle took notice.
“The umpiring in this match has been outstanding,” Bhogle said during the broadcast. “You expect a certain standard from Chris Gaffaney, but Sharfuddoula Saikat has been excellent.”
It wasn’t the first time.
Since joining the ICC Elite Panel in March 2024, Saikat has officiated in 12 Test matches — seven on the field, five as TV umpire. His journey began much earlier though. He debuted as a TV umpire in 2009 and stepped onto the field a year later. His first on-field Test assignment came in 2021. Since then, he’s kept moving forward.
Saikat’s reputation has grown partly due to his solid record with the Decision Review System.
In the South Africa–West Indies Test at Providence, nine of his decisions were reviewed. Eight reviews failed. Just one was overturned.
In Multan, during the England–Pakistan Test, all three reviews against him failed.
Then in Rawalpindi, five of seven challenged calls stood.
In Durban, none of the eight reviews against him succeeded.
Even as a TV umpire, Saikat made high-impact calls. Despite no UltraEdge spike, he upheld an LBW against Yashasvi Jaiswal during the 2024 Melbourne Test. Replays showed a deflection. His judgment was praised by commentators and players alike.
In Sydney, two of four reviews stood in his favor.
So far, 41 of his on-field decisions have been reviewed since he joined the elite panel. Only 10 have been overturned. That’s a 75.6% success rate.
To put that in perspective:
Chris Gaffaney: 82.1%
Paul Reifel: 80.3%
Richard Kettleborough: 75%
Michael Gough: 76.6%
Saikat is right there among the best.
The numbers tell part of the story. The other part is trust. In pressure moments, with stadiums packed and millions watching, the game needs clarity. Saikat brings that.
He doesn’t chase attention. But it’s finding him anyway.
And at a time when Bangladesh cricket could use a steady figure to rally behind, it’s not a batter or a bowler getting the job done. It’s the umpire in the middle, making calls that keep standing up to scrutiny.
