Ahmed Shah Pakteen becomes first on-field Test umpire from Afghanistan

The first Test Tuesday between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was a big day for Ahmed Shah Pakteen, who became the first Afghan to be an on-field umpire in a Test match.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Pakteen made his debut as an international cricket umpire in January 2017. He has previously stood in 15 ODIs and 20 T20Is.

In March 2019, Pakteen became the first Afghan to be a TV umpire during the only Test between Afghanistan and Ireland. Ten months later, in January 2020, he became the first Afghan umpire at an ICC main event when he officiated at the Men’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, ESPN reported.

While there is no Afghan representation in the 12-member elite panel of umpires (the highest category), there are four in the international panel: apart from Pakteen, there are Ahmed Shah Durrani, Bismillah Jan Shinwari and Izatullah Safi.

The ongoing Test also marked a debut in Tests for Durrani, who became the second Afghan – after Pakteen – to be a TV umpire in the longest format.

Pakteen’s debut now means that Ireland is the only full-member nation to not field an on-field umpire yet, ESPN reported.

Ireland have played three Tests so far, and the only official from their country has been Mark Hawthorne, who was the TV umpire in their debut Test, against Pakistan in 2018 .