The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to appoint former ICC Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel on a three-year contract aimed at raising the quality and professionalism of local umpires.

The esteemed Australian umpire will spearhead a comprehensive development programme focusing on domestic match officials, whose performances have often faced criticism.

Confirming the development, Iftikhar Ahmed Mithu, Chairman of the BCB Umpires’ Committee, stated that the board had been in discussions with Taufel over the past few months.

“Recently, we reached out to Simon Taufel, a former ICC Elite Panel umpire who works globally to improve umpiring standards. After four to five months of discussions, the board has now approved the plan. We’ve signed a three-year agreement with him. The programme will be implemented in three phases, and we aim to train 10 to 15 umpire trainers who will work across the country,” Mithu said.

He added that while the official contract has not yet been signed, Taufel and his team will oversee the entire training initiative. “Simon himself will also be present from time to time,” he noted.

Taufel, widely respected for his umpiring expertise, served on the ICC Elite Panel from 2003 to 2012. During his career, he officiated in major tournaments including World Cups and Ashes series. He stood in 74 Test matches, 174 One Day Internationals, and 34 Twenty20 Internationals. Between 2004 and 2008, he was named ICC Umpire of the Year five years in a row — a record that remains unmatched.

With this appointment, the BCB hopes to raise umpiring standards to meet international expectations and to bring greater consistency and professionalism to the game in Bangladesh.