Bismillah Shinwari, a veteran Afghan cricket umpire who officiated at the international level, has died following an illness, the Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday. He was 41.
Shinwari, a member of the International Cricket Council’s International Panel of Umpires, made his debut in 2017, officiating an ODI between Afghanistan and Ireland in Sharjah. Over the course of his career, he stood in 25 One Day Internationals and 21 Twenty20 Internationals.
In a statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board described Shinwari as “a great servant of Afghan cricket” and said the news of his death had deeply saddened the organization.
“ACB’s leadership, staff, and entire AfghanAtalan family are deeply shocked and saddened by the demise of Bismillah Jan Shinwari, a respected member of Afghanistan’s elite umpiring panel,” the statement read. “The Afghanistan Cricket Board extends its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and the entire Afghan cricket fraternity.”
Jay Shah, chairman of the ICC, also issued a statement expressing condolences.
“His contributions to the game were huge, and he will be deeply missed by the cricket community,” Mr. Shah said. “We are profoundly saddened by this loss and extend our condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Shinwari was widely respected for his professionalism and calm presence on the field, and was considered instrumental in representing Afghanistan’s cricketing rise on the global stage.
