New umpires for series against West Indies, Bangladesh

THREE members of the ICC Emirates international panel of umpires will get an opportunity of standing in Test matches with umpires of the ICC Emirates elite panel when Sri Lanka host the West Indies and then Bangladesh in two separate Test series.

For the two-Test series against West Indies starting Wednesday week at the SSC grounds Pakistan's Nadeem Ghauri will officiate with elite umpire Simon Taufel of Australia.

This Test will be Sri Lanka's 150th in their history since gaining Test status in 1981.

Taufel will also stand in the second Test starting on July 21 in Kandy with New Zealand's Tony Hill.

For the seven-match one-day triangular that will follow from July 30 to August 9 Taufel will be joined by Australian colleague Daryl Harper. They will officiate with one Sri Lankan umpire.

South African Mike Procter will be the match referee for the Test and one-day triangular series.

For the Bangladesh series - two Tests and three one-day internationals in September, West Indian Clive Lloyd will be the match referee.

The first Test will be officiated by West Indian Steve Bucknor and Pakistani Asad Rauf. For the second Test experienced pair Bucknor and Billy Bowden of New Zealand will stand. Rauf will officiate all three one-day internationals along with Sri Lankan umpires.

- [S.T.]