Subba Row (65), a left-hand batsman, who represented England in 13 Tests came to Sri Lanka previously in the capacity of a player (with the MCC team in 1958) and, then as manager of the England team captained by Keith Fletcher, which played the inaugural Test against Sri Lanka at the Saravanamuttu Stadium in February 1982.
Subba Row is a Cambridge Blue and played first-class cricket for both Surrey and Northamptonshire, whom he captained. He is one of the few cricketers to begin his Test career with a century, scoring 112 against Australia at Birmingham in 1953.
Former New Zealand captain John Reid was the ICC match referee for the last three home Test series played in Sri Lanka, against Zimbabwe, Pakistan and India.
England Test umpire Mervyn Kitchen will officiate in the first Test between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to be played at the Asgiriya Stadium from January 7-11.
Pakistan's Salim Badar will stand in the second Test at the SSC grounds from January 14-18.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board's umpires committee has to appoint the local umpires for the two Tests and the three one-day internationals to be played on January 22 and 26 at the SSC and on January 24 at R. Premadasa Stadium (day match).
Zimbabwe who arrive on December 30, open their month-long tour with a three-day fixture against a Board XI at Matara on January 3.