Bangladesh Umpire Officiates India-NZ ODI Amidst T20 World Cup, Mustafizur Row

• Sharfuddoula Saikat, a Bangladeshi umpire, is officiating as the third umpire in the India vs New Zealand ODI in Vadodara.
• This comes amidst strained sporting ties between India and Bangladesh due to KKR releasing Mustafizur Rahman on BCCI's directive after attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh banned IPL telecast and requested ICC to relocate their T20 World Cup fixtures from India to Sri Lanka.
• Sharfuddoula, born in Dhaka, has extensive experience, officiating in 32 Tests, 118 ODIs, and 75 T20Is.
• He became the first Bangladeshi national to join the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in March 2024.

Why It Matters: Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat officiates India-NZ ODI despite ongoing India-Bangladesh cricket tensions.