Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat to Officiate in Sydney Test as On-Field Umpire

Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat will take on the responsibility of on-field umpire in the upcoming Sydney Test between Australia and India, which marks the fifth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series has been full of controversy and intense moments, with Sharfuddoula's courageous decisions during the Melbourne Test recently making headlines.

In the Sydney Test, Sharfuddoula will be joined by Michael Gough from England as his on-field umpire partner. Meanwhile, Jewel Wilson from the West Indies will take up the role of TV umpire.

The Melbourne Test Controversy: Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat previously officiated as TV umpire during the Melbourne Test, where his decision to give Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal out sparked debate. Despite the Snicko technology not detecting an edge, Sharfuddoula upheld the on-field umpire’s original out decision, which led to significant controversy.

The decision did not sit well with the Indian players, but their captain, Rohit Sharma, defended the third umpire's decision. Jaiswal, dismissed for 84, couldn’t accept the decision and argued with the on-field umpires before leaving the field. This incident added to the drama as India eventually lost the match by 184 runs and found themselves 2-1 behind in the series.

Upcoming Sydney Test: The Sydney Test, scheduled to begin on January 3, will be crucial for India as they must win to keep their hopes alive in the series. Currently trailing 2-1 in the five-match series, India faces a must-win situation to prevent Australia from securing the series. Sharfuddoula’s role as an on-field umpire in this high-stakes match adds a significant responsibility, especially given the intense pressure on both teams in this closely contested series.