As the Bangladesh under-21 hockey team were making history in their debut Junior World Cup campaign in India, two umpires -- Salim Lucky and Shahbaz Ali -- were also becoming part of history as the first officials from the country to officiate at a World Cup. In an interview with The Daily Star's Atique Anam, Lucky, a hockey-player-turned-umpire, spoke about learning elite-level protocols, earning praise from the FIH and global peers, the challenges of limited domestic competition, and his plea for greater institutional support to secure the future of Bangladeshi umpires. Following are the excerpts:

The Daily Star (DS): Tell us what the experience of officiating in the World Cup for the first time was like.

Salim Lucky (SL): It was truly historic for us. We learned and experienced many new things -- new friendships, a completely different environment, and the opportunity to meet people at such a big global event. We gained invaluable experience and learned various modern techniques of officiating. Beyond on-field duties, we observed how elite umpires conduct themselves. We also learned how video referral discussions are handled.

DS: How many matches did you and Shahbaz Ali officiate?

SL: I officiated 15 matches in total -- six as a field umpire, two as a video umpire, and around seven as a reserve umpire. Shahbaz bhai officiated 13 matches -- eight as a field umpire, three as a video umpire, and two as a reserve umpire. Together, we were involved in 28 matches out of roughly 72 in the tournament.

DS: You officiated many high-pressure matches. How challenging was it?

SL: The pressure was immense. Nearly 10 World Panel umpires were present, which naturally raised the standard. Although we are a couple of levels below them, officiating alongside such elite umpires was a fantastic feeling.

DS: How did the two of you earn this opportunity?

SL: We have been involved in international hockey since 2012. Over the years, we officiated at major tournaments such as the Asia Cup, Asian Games, European Tour, African Olympic Qualifiers, and even India-Pakistan matches. Through consistent hard work and performance, we reached a stage where the FIH trusted us with a World Cup assignment.

DS: What feedback did you receive from the FIH and fellow umpires?

SL: They acknowledged that this was our first FIH event and advised us to further increase our confidence to reach a higher level. They were happy with our improvement and effort, especially considering our limitations back home. Since we lack regular leagues, games, and proper umpire protocols in Dhaka, adapting to different environments is difficult. I felt extremely proud every time I heard the emcee say, "Salim Lucky from Bangladesh," before the matches.

DS: With no domestic league, how do you prepare yourself?

SL: I officiated in the Oman League in 2024. Some cantonment-level matches were also held earlier this year, where eight of us officiated to maintain match fitness. We later went to China and then to the Asia Cup. I also work with the Ostad Fazlur Rahman Hockey Academy, train with young players, watch umpiring videos on my phone, and learn by observing senior umpires and colleagues.

DS: Where do you currently stand in international umpiring?

SL: I am now a Central Panel umpire. Above this level are the High Performance Platform (HPP) and the Leading Panel. Currently, there are 32 umpires in the Leading Panel and 10 in the HPP.

DS: What reaction did you notice regarding the Bangladesh team's performance?

SL: Bangladesh team impressed everyone. European, Australian, and New Zealand umpires praised the team highly. Many couldn't believe how much Bangladesh hockey has improved.

DS: What is your expectation from the federation now?

SL: Our request is simple. After us, there are very few quality umpires coming through. There is no guarantee that Bangladesh will produce another international umpire in the next 10 years. The federation must value and support umpires, reduce the gap with the umpire board, and work together to develop future officials. Without that, progress will be very difficult.