Nadir Shah honoured
Sports Reporter
Cricket umpire Nadir Shah told yesterday that it was an honour for him to become the first Bangladeshi to be picked in International Cricket Council's neutral umpires' panel.The former cricketer, who has so far conducted seven one-day internationals -- all at home -- since his debut in the Bangladesh-Kenya series in March 2006, has been selected as one of the umpires for the six-nation ICC World Cup Cricket League Division One. The pre-World Cup tournament for the ICC associate members will be held in Nairobi from January 30-February 7. Canada, Holland, Bermuda, Scotland, Ireland and hosts Kenya will battle for a place in the February 7 final. The two finalists will also get berths in the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in South Africa later this year. Nadir feels that it would be a great experience for him. "I am familiar to home conditions. Now the experience to stand in matches abroad will help me gain more knowledge. Also, if I do well, it will be a plus point for Bangladeshi umpires," told Nadir, who departs for the Kenyan capital on January 26. Australia's controversial umpire Darrell Hair is also on the list.
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