Cricketers such as Shakib, Tamim, Mustafizur, Mushfiqur and Mashrafe has hogged international headlines to make Bangladesh proud but now it is Rabiul Haque Rabi, 33year old Bangladeshi umpire brought back laurel for the country as won the Best Umpire award from Abu Dhabi Cricket Council at the Shyam Bhatia Annual Awards held recently.

To add icing to the cake he was also included in the ICC Associate and Affiliate Panel of International Umpires for 2016/17.

Talking to BSS, Rabi said, ‘I am so happy to win this award. As you know in UAE it is Pakistani and Indian umpires who have dominated the UAE cricket for many years and it is almost next to impossible to break their dominance. Thanks to Almighty Allah, I managed to impress UAE Cricketing body and ICC bosses to get those coveted trophy.

Rabi, born in Chittagong, is overwhelmed by his two achievements, recalling his career that began in Bangladesh 15 years ago. He was impressed from his childhood watching David Shepherd — one of the world’s best-known umpires, who stood in for 92 Tests.

Rabiul has his first stint as umpire when he officiated in a local

competition in Chittagong. But it was far from having happy memories. Having judged two LBW decision go against them, the losing side refused to take the runner-up trophy.

‘It was that experience that made up my mind to pursue umpiring further and despite being a young age, I persisted myself to sacrifice anything beyond my limit to becoming an umpire,’ he said.

Determined to achieve his goal, he was turned away from the Chittagong District Sports Association and under their nursing he completed his umpiring course.

He slowly made his progress and got his opportunity when he was asked to stand as umpire in Under-16 and U19 domestic games over four years. It was not until 2006 when he moved to the UAE that his umpiring career started to take off.

Working as a contract manager for a construction company, he made sure he found time to pursue umpiring passion with new zest.

As well as umpiring in domestic games in Abu Dhabi, his CV also includes last year’s ACC Regional Twenty20 Qualifiers in Sharjah, the UAE-Ireland first T20 in Abu Dhabi in February, and the England-Oman 50-over practice game in November in Abu Dhabi. Warm up tour matches between England vs Hong Kong, England vs UAE, Pakistan vs UAE and English County team matches.

His efforts did not go unnoticed with one particular international when after his inclusion in UAE umpires panel and finally he caught eye of ICC umpires panel who decided to include him in UAE’s Associate and Affiliate Panel of International Umpires for 2016/17.

‘ The ultimate dream of mine is to officiate in more international matches like the World Cup and would love to grab any opportunity to be part of Bangladesh Cricket Board’s umpires panel’, he added.

Rabi nowadays is in Chittagong on leave and in the conclusion said, ‘I’ve had a wonderful 15 years of umpiring but I’m still in my early stages of my career. I need to improve a lot but want to thank all the people who have supported me’.