By Syed Mussarat Khalil

JEDDAH — Osama Saad Abdullah Abbas Al-Nadvi made history by becoming the first Saudi International cricket umpire by officiating in the ACC Western Region Twenty20 International cricket tournament held in Oman from Jan. 20 to 24.

Osama Saad was born in Makkah. He belongs to a Saudi cricketing family Al-Nadvi. His late father Saad Abdullah Abbas Al-Nadvi was the president of Yanbu Cricket League (YCL), now called as Yanbu Al-Sinaiya Cricket Association (YACA).

Osama has 7 brothers and all are playing cricket. Elder brother Nadeem Saad has led Saudi team in several international matches.

Osama, 38, took to cricket in 2004 when he was 24. He passed first umpiring course in 2005. Later, he was selected for the ICC level-II umpiring course in Malaysia in 2012. His younger brother Abbas Al-Nadvi is a senior Level-II coach.

He said that he earned this honor by the Grace of Allah, prayers of my mother and a lot of encouragement from SCC CEO Nadeem Nadwi. He also thanked Rahat Ali Choudhry, SCC coordinator and his colleagues, for their support.