Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Cricket Sierra Leone (CSL) has taken a major stride in professionalizing the sport across the country by certifying 13 umpires with ICC Level 1 credentials. The certification ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the CSL conference hall, located at the Kingtom Police Field.
The milestone comes after an intensive training program that saw 15 participants engage in both practical and off-field sessions under the expert supervision of ICC-certified Umpire Tutor, Francis Trevor Samura. Samura, who also serves on the Board of Cricket Sierra Leone, oversaw the rigorous process that ultimately qualified 13 candidates for certification.
This initiative forms a key pillar of CSL’s 2025 development strategy, aimed at strengthening the technical backbone of the game in Sierra Leone.
According to CSL’s media team, a second group of 15 aspiring umpires has already begun training on Wednesday, with sessions scheduled to continue through Friday. The goal is to certify at least 30 umpires within four days, significantly boosting the country’s pool of qualified officials.
In addition to umpire development, Cricket Sierra Leone is also prioritizing coaching capacity. The media team disclosed that efforts are underway to train up to 60 coaches by the end of May. These efforts are expected to bring the total number of certified umpires nationwide to 144 — a major step toward raising the standards and reach of cricket in Sierra Leone. BT/21/5/2025
 has taken a major stride in professionalizing the sport across the country by certifying 13 umpires with ICC Level 1 credentials. The certification ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the CSL conference hall, located at the Kingtom Police Field.){kind=link}