ICC Elite Panel of Umpires: Bangladesh's Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid became the first umpire from Bangladesh to be inducted in ICC's Elite Panel of umpires. This is a significant achievement not only for Shahid but also for Bangladeshi cricket umpiring as a whole. Meanwhile, India's Nitin Menon continued his reign as the sole Indian umpire in ICC's Elite Panel of umpires. This marks an unprecedented fifth term for Menon, solidifying his position as a highly respected umpire on the international stage. Hailing from Indore, Menon joined the elite panel in 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Menon's journey is particularly noteworthy. He is only the third Indian umpire to achieve this level of distinction, following in the footsteps of S Ravi and S Venkataraghavan. Notably, Venkataraghavan holds the record for most matches officiated by an Indian umpire with 125 games across formats. With the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled for the USA and the Caribbean, Menon is expected to surpass this record, further etching his name in Indian cricket history.
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Menon's dedication and skill have been evident throughout his career. He has already officiated in a substantial number of matches, including 23 Tests, 58 ODIs, and 41 T20s, bringing his total to 122 international games. He also achieved a personal milestone last year by officiating in the prestigious Ashes series, highlighting his well-deserved place among the world's elite umpires.
Meanwhile, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid's inclusion in the Elite Panel marks a significant change for Bangladesh. He wasn't entirely new to the international officiating scene, having served on the ICC International Panel since 2006. His experience is substantial, having officiated in a total of 117 matches across formats - 10 Tests, 63 ODIs, and 44 T20Is. He even holds the distinction of officiating in 13 Women's ODIs and 28 Women's T20Is. Interestingly, Sharfuddoula takes the spot vacated by the recently retired umpire Marais Erasmus.
There's also a change in the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. The panel has been streamlined from seven members to six, with Chris Broad no longer included for the 2024-25 season. Broad's absence marks the end of a long and distinguished career as a match referee. He has officiated in a staggering number of matches - 123 Tests, 361 ODIs, and 135 T20Is, along with 15 Women's T20s.
Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees:
David Boon (Australia), Jeff Crowe (New Zealand), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), Andrew Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Richie Richardson (West Indies), Javagal Srinath (India).
Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires:
Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand), Michael Gough (England), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Nitin Menon (India), Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Joel Wilson (West Indies).
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