Pakistan v South Africa series: Madugalle is match referee

By DINESH WEERAWANSA

1 October 1997


The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed former Sri Lanka Test captain Ranjan Madugalle as the ICC match referee for Pakistan's three-Test home series against South Africa starting early next month.

Madugalle, one of the most sought after young match referees by the ICC, is also functioning as the ICC match referee for the three-match one day international series between Pakistan and India for the Wills Challenge which started on Sunday.

Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka Test opener Sidath Wettimuny functioned as the ICC match referee in the two-Test series between Zimbabwe and New Zealand which concluded yesterday. This is the first time that Wettimuny officiated as an ICC match referee.

Meanwhile, Pakistan umpires Saleem Badar and Javed Akhtar will officiate the opening match of the four-nation Jinnah Cup tournament between the West Indies and the World champions Sri Lanka at Qaddhafi Stadium in Lahore under floodlights on November 1.

Sri Lanka's second league match of the quadrangular tournament against the hosts Pakistan, to be played on November 5, will be umpired by New Zealanders Steve Dunne and Ian Robinson. Pakistanis Nazir Junior and Mian Aslam will umpire Sri Lanka's third match of the tournament - against South Africa on November 6.

If Pakistan qualifies for the final on November 8, then the ICC umpires Steve Dunne and Ian Robinson will supervise the match. Saleem Badar will act as TV umpire and Javed Akhtar as reserve umpire for the finals.

Sri Lanka's K.T. Francis has been appointed as an ICC neutral umpire for next month's second Test between Pakistan and South Africa by the International Cricket Council. Francis will stand in with Pakistani Nazir Junior at the second Test to be played from October 17 to 21 at Sheikhupura.

The First Test to be played from October 6 to 10 at Rawalpindi will be umpired by Pakistan's Javed Akhtar and Indian Venkatraghavan while the third Test to be played from October 24 to 28 at Faisalabad will be officiated by Pakistani Mian Aslam and New Zealander Steve Dunne.

The three-Test series will be followed by the Jinnah Cup four-nation tournament from November 1 to 8 which also features the West Indies and the World champions Sri Lanka.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 18:55