Prayagraj lad becomes fourth UP cricketer to join elite BCCI referee panel
from Prayagraj has topped the BCCI match referee exam held in Ahmedabad with an impressive score of 84.5 marks. This outstanding performance has earned him a coveted spot in the elite referee panel.
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Among 62 candidates, Shukla's selection in the top 10 is a matter of great pride for the city, and he has become only the fourth cricketer from Uttar Pradesh to achieve this prestigious honour.
A seasoned cricketer, Shivakant — a resident of Minto Road — has played 85 first-class matches, scoring over 4,000 runs, and was part of the Uttar Pradesh team that won the Ranji Trophy in 2005-06. Known for his dedication and memorable innings, including an unbeaten 178-run knock lasting 821 minutes, Shivakant is now ready to embrace his new role.
The examination, held from June 17-19, saw 62 cricketers competing for a position in the prestigious BCCI referee panel.
Shivakant's roots trace back to Kurni village in Jaunpur, but he has strong ties to Prayagraj, where he settled with his family after his father Shivprasad Shukla's appointment as DIG registrar of registration in 1995. The city, along with Lucknow, has been his home ever since. "After doing my early schooling in Prayagraj, I joined sports college in Lucknow and completed my schooling, from high school to undergraduate, in the state capital and I am presently posted at Deen Dayal Upadhayay Junction as deputy chief ticket inspector," 39-year-old Shivakant told TOI.
Shivakant described his achievement as a "pleasant surprise" and expressed his readiness to take on the new responsibilities as a BCCI match referee. He follows in the footsteps of notable cricketers from Uttar Pradesh, including as Sunil Chaturvedi (Kanpur, retired), Rohit Prakash (Prayagraj) and Parvinder Singh (Meerut), who have previously held this esteemed position.
Shivakant's cricketing career is marked by impressive achievements.
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As a left-handed opening batsman and right-arm off-break bowler, he played 85 first-class and 35 List A matches. His first-class career yielded 4,198 runs, featuring seven centuries and 19 half-centuries. Shukla's resume boasts appearances in top domestic tournaments, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Irani Trophy.
He also represented India at the Under-19 and Under-17 levels, participating in the 2003 Asia Cup and the 2002 Triangular Series.
His wife Dr Pooja Tiwari Shukla is a practising dentist in the Sangam City and stays in Prayagraj with her four-year-old daughter Lavyanya and in-laws.
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