The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially broken its silence regarding Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat officiating in the first One Day International (ODI) between India and New Zealand. A senior BCB official clarified that Saikat did not require any No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the board to officiate in the match. This is because Saikat is an umpire contracted with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and not directly with the BCB. His international assignments are therefore managed solely by the ICC. This explanation aims to clear up any confusion or controversy surrounding his role in an Indian fixture. The timing of this clarification is significant, as the BCB has recently expressed serious security concerns to the ICC, requesting a change of venue for Bangladesh's matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted in India. The BCB's stance on the T20 World Cup venues remains firm, despite reports suggesting the ICC may have rejected their request. The presence of a Bangladeshi umpire officiating in India during this period adds a complex layer to the ongoing discussions between the BCB and the ICC. The BCB's Umpire Department Chairman, Iftekhar Rahman, reiterated that Saikat's ICC contract automatically places him on leave from BCB duties for any international assignments, and the board has no authority to prevent him from officiating. This situation underscores the administrative independence of ICC-contracted officials from their national boards for international fixtures. The BCB continues to await a formal response from the ICC regarding their venue change request for the T20 World Cup, maintaining that their concerns for player security are paramount.