On Tuesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) set the record straight regarding the contract of ICC Elite Panel umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat. They clarified that they didn’t terminate his contract; rather, they opted not to extend it beyond April 2026 due to his growing international commitments. There had been earlier reports suggesting that the BCB had cut ties with Sharfuddoula after April, which prompted the board to release a statement to clear up any confusion. "The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken note of recent media reports concerning International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite Panel Umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat’s engagement with the Board, which may have caused some confusion or misunderstanding about his current status," the BCB said in a statement. The BCB explained that Sharfuddoula was working under a contract that was originally set to expire in December 2025 but was later extended until April 2026. After this extended period, the board decided not to renew the contract, citing his increasing responsibilities as an ICC Elite Panel umpire and the likelihood that his international duties would affect his availability for the board. Also Read | Rohit Sharma's 'Drop Me' Comment Sparks Fresh Debate After Ex-India Star's Take Additionally, the BCB pointed out that it’s not common for Full Member nations to centrally contract ICC Elite Panel umpires, mainly because of the difficulties in juggling international officiating with domestic scheduling. Even though his contract has come to an end, the board confirmed that Sharfuddoula is still eligible to officiate in bilateral international matches and domestic First-Class, List A, and T20 competitions, depending on his availability. "Sharfuddoula was under contract with the Board as a BCB Umpire. His contract expired in December 2025 and was subsequently extended until April 2026. Following the completion of the extended term, no further extension of the contract was pursued taking into account Sharfuddoula’s growing responsibilities as an ICC Elite Panel Umpire and the possibility that these could reduce the opportunities for him to contribute to the BCB in the same capacity. His previous contract with the Board therefore concluded in April 2026," the statement read. In their clarification, the BCB stressed that Sharfuddoula's contract simply expired and was not terminated. While he won’t continue under a central contract due to his increasing ICC commitments, he remains available to officiate in both international and domestic matches in Bangladesh whenever he can.