AUS vs IND: Who Is the Bangladeshi Third Umpire Sharfuddoula Who Gave Yashasvi Jaiswal Out?
AUS vs IND: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s hard-fought marathon knock of 84 runs off 208 balls went in vain after he was given out in a controversial manner as India lost the fourth Test by 184 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Jaiswal was given out caught behind by third umpire Sharfuddoula Siakat, despite the ultra-edge showing no clear indication of the ball kissing the bat before going into the wicket-keeper’s gloves.
© X/BCCI
The umpire, however, went by the visual evidence as he was convinced of a visible deflection as the ball passed the bat and the gloves. Later, the ball tracker also showed that the ball trajectory changed as it passed the batter, moving to the other side as Alex Carey completed a good catch leaning forward.
Generally, we see umpires trusting technology at their disposal, but Sharfuddoula, despite not getting clear help from the ultra-edge, trusted his gut and adjudged the Indian batter out.
The third umpire is an umpire from Bangladesh named Sharfuddoula. pic.twitter.com/Ub8MBSPBvh
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) December 30, 2024
The 23-year-old’s wicket turned out to be a decisive moment in the match as it exposed India’s tail from one end, allowing Australia to target the lower-order batters and eventually seal the match in their favour.
Who is Sharfuddoula? © X/ICC
Sharfuddoula is a seasoned umpire who hails from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is the first-ever umpire from his country to be included in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. The International Cricket Council (ICC) included him in the Elite Panel in March 2024.
Sharfuddoula is a former Bangladesh cricketer who played three matches for his country at the 1994 ICC Trophy in Kenya. This tournament served as a qualifying tournament for the 1996 ODI World Cup.
He also featured in 10 first-class matches for Dhaka Metropolis between 2000 and 2001.
Educational BackgroundSharfuddoula is an alumnus of Rajshahi University School. He studied Bachelor’s and Master’s in International Relations at Dhaka University and later completed an MBA degree in Human Resources from American International University-Bangladesh.
© X/MCG
The 48-year-old made his first-class umpiring debut in 2007 in a match between Barisal Division and Sylhet Division. Three years later, he made his ODI debut as an umpire. He has officiated in 15 Tests, 63 ODIs, and 52 T20Is. Additionally, he has officiated in 13 Women’s ODIs and 28 Women’s T20Is.