Bismillah Jan Shinwari, a member of the ICC International Panel of Umpires, has died at the age of 41. He passed away on Monday night, July 7, 2025, in a hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

According to his brother, Seyda Jan, Shinwari traveled to Peshawar seeking to have abdominal fat removed. He was hospitalized for several days before undergoing surgery, but he died at 5 PM after the operation. His funeral was held on Tuesday in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. He is survived by five sons and seven daughters.

Shinwari's body was transported back through Torkham overnight and buried in his ancestral cemetery in Achin.

Bismillah Jan Shinwari, who was from Afghanistan, made his international umpiring debut in December 2017 in a One Day International (ODI) match between Afghanistan and Ireland in Sharjah. Throughout his career, he officiated in 34 ODIs and 26 T20Is. According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, he also served as an umpire in 31 First-Class, 51 List A, and 96 domestic T20 matches.

The news of Shinwari's death has been met with widespread grief from the cricket community. Jay Shah, the ICC chairman, mourned his death, stating, "His contributions to the game were huge, and he will be deeply missed by the cricket community. We are profoundly saddened by this loss and extend our condolences to his family and loved ones".

The Afghanistan Cricket Board also released a statement paying tribute to the umpire, saying, "Bismillah Jan Shinwari was a dedicated servant of Afghan cricket". They also extended their heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and the entire Afghan cricket fraternity. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged Shinwari's unforgettable efforts to develop cricket in Afghanistan and his service as an excellent umpire in international matches.

Fellow umpire Ahmad Shah Pakteen noted that Shinwari's absence would not be easily filled, acknowledging him as one of the few umpires who officiated in ICC matches. Another umpire, Hamim Talwar, described Shinwari's passing as a huge loss not only for Afghanistan but for the entire cricketing world, adding that words could not truly describe his qualities. Nazim Jar Abdul Rahimzai, head of domestic cricket at the ACB, also acknowledged Shinwari's role as part of the ICC panel of umpires.