After Sri Lanka confirming its participation in the limited-overs tour to Pakistan which comprises of three ODIs and three T20Is, the ICC has named the officials for the upcoming encounters. This shows a massive change in how the elite cricket body views the security situation in the country.

ICC has appointed former Australia batsman David Boon as the match referee for the limited-overs series between Pakistan and a second-string Sri Lanka side after ten of the star Lankan players including Malinga, Karunaratne, Chandimal, and Thisara Perera refused to go on the tour.

The ICC confirmed on Saturday that Boon would be the match referee for the series of three ODIs and three T20 internationals in Karachi and Lahore from 27 September to 9 October. Boon has officiated in 135 ODIs and 51 T20Is since 2011. He played 107 Tests and 181 ODIs for Australia between 1984 and 1996.

The ICC also named Joel Wilson and Michael Gough- its elite panel umpires, as officials in the series. Gough had visited Pakistan earlier this year for the PSL 4 final. The Pakistan Cricket Board has named Elite panel umpire Aleem Dar along with Ahsan Raza, Sozaib Raza, and Asif Yaqoob to supervise the series as home umpires.

Interestingly Raza was one of the umpires traveling in the match officials coaster behind the bus carrying the Sri Lankan team when it came under attack by militants in Lahore in March 2009. Raza survived a kidney operation and other complications due to bullet wounds to make a brave return to umpiring.

(PTI inputs)