LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed its match officials for Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka starting from Oct 27 in Karachi with the first of the thee One-day Internationals before the teams clash for three T20s in Lahore.

While Australian David Boon has been appointed as the ICC match referee, two ICC Elite Panel Umpires, namely Michael Gough and Joel Wilson are also appointed for the ODI series.

In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first international side to tour Pakistan after the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009. But the ICC had refused to appoint it’s match officials then, citing security fears.

In 2018, however, the global cricket-governing body appointed Boon as the match-referee for the T20 series for a home series against West Indies.

Boon, 58, played 107 Tests and 181 ODIs for Australia from 1984 to 1996 and has been on the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees since 2011.

As an ICC official, he has refereed in 135 ODIs and 51 T20Is.

Gough had visited Karachi earlier this year for the HBL Pakistan Super League.

From Pakistan, world prominent umpire Aleem Dar, also from the elite panel, has been appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board as a home umpire for the third ODI to be played on Oct 2, as well as for all the three T20Is to be played on Oct 5, 7 and 9.

Ahsan Raza, Shozab Raza and Asif Yaqoob, all on the ICC Panel of International Umpires, will also officiate during the forthcoming series.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2019