ICC appoints Srinath as match referee for first two Tests

Lahore: Former India pacer Javagal Srinath will be the match referee for the first two Tests between Pakistan and England in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this month.

According to the list of officials announced for the Test, ODI and T20 series, New Zealand`s Jeff Crowe will replace Srinath after the first two Tests as match referee for remainder of the series. Interestingly, the ICC has appointed one of the lesser known umpires on the elite panel, Australian Bruce Oxenford to supervise the first two Tests of the high-profile series with New Zealander Billy Bowden and Australian Steve Davis who has also struggled in recent series. The well-known Simon Taufel will join Davis for the third Test. The ICC and Pakistan cricket Board have also decided to give proper exposure for the first time to Pakistani umpire Sozaib Raza who will stand in the one-off international against Afghanistan. Raza will also supervise two of the three T20 internationals. Umpires: First Test: Billy Bowden and Bruce Oxenford Second Test: Steve Davis and Bruce Oxenford Third Test: Simon Taufel and Steve Davis First ODI: Simon Taufel and Ahsan Raza Second ODI: Aleem Dar and Kumar Dharmasena Third ODI: Aleem Dar and Simon Taufel Fourth ODI: Kumar Dharmasena and Zameer Haider First T20: Ahsan Raza and Sozaib Raza Second T20: Ahsan Raza and Zameer Haider Third T20: Zameer Haider and Sozaib Raza. PTI