By IANS,
Dubai : New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden will replace Pakistan’s Asad Rauf in the first Test between India and England in Chennai starting Thursday.
Rauf, who was to officiate in both Tests, has failed to get a new visa after the venues were changed.
“His visa was appropriate for the original venues. But after the change in venues, he required a new visa but due to the weekend, followed by the Eid-ul-Zuha holidays, there was insufficient time for one to be issued, so he had to step down from the first Test,” International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a release.
Asad is expected to stand in the second match of the series in Mohali, starting Dec 18.
The other ICC appointments for the series – on-field umpire Daryl Harper and match referee Jeff Crowe – stay.