Former ICC Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel has called on Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat to block out external noise and focus on continuous improvement, as questions around umpiring standards and World Cup appointments continue to surface.
Taufel, who was appointed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board last year to help improve officiating standards, spoke to the media on Monday after conducting a two-day workshop for match referees at the BCB. While the programme focused broadly on assessment, decision-making and accountability, attention centred on Saikat, Bangladesh’s most experienced international umpire and a regular at ICC events.
“I have no particular thoughts on him that I’d like to share with the wider group,” Taufel said. “He’s like nobody different at the international level or even at the domestic level. He needs to make his next game his best game.”
Saikat has officiated at multiple global tournaments, including ICC World Cups, and his performances have often been placed under the spotlight, particularly during high-profile matches. Without referring to specific incidents, Taufel acknowledged the pressure that comes with officiating on the biggest stage and stressed the importance of focus.
“He just needs to keep learning and keep improving and keep celebrating what’s working,” Taufel said. “I want him to focus on his umpiring as much as he can, put a lot of the current distractions around the politics aside and just umpire the game of cricket, and keep the focus on the players.”
The comments come at a time when umpiring standards at ICC tournaments, including World Cups, have been widely debated, increasing scrutiny on officials from all nations. Saikat remains Bangladesh’s leading representative in that space, making his development and consistency a key concern for the BCB.
Taufel said the recent workshops were part of a broader effort to ensure Bangladeshi officials are better prepared for the demands of international cricket, including World Cups.
“The main objective was to improve the umpire assessment system,” Taufel said. “How performances are analysed and how constructive feedback is given are critical, especially for umpires operating at the highest level.”
He added that the BCB plans to rank umpires and hold match officials to the same standards of accountability as players, with the aim of producing more officials capable of handling major ICC events.
“Just like players, match officials must be accountable,” Taufel said. “If we all work together, Bangladesh can produce more international-quality umpires. That preparation is extremely important.”
For Saikat, who continues to feature in ICC tournaments, the message from one of the game’s most respected officials was clear. Strip away the noise, focus on the basics, and let performances speak at the World Cup level.
