Umpire Asoka for two Tests in Pakistan

For the first time in Sri Lanka's cricket history international umpire Asoka de Silva has been assigned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to officiate in two Tests of a three-Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand commencing next month in Pakistan.

De Silva (45) who represented his country in ten Tests as a right-arm leg-spinner, will officiate the first two Tests of the series at Peshawar (October 2-6) and at Faisalabad (October 13-17). He is the fourth Sri Lankan umpire to figure in the ICC's international panel of umpires after K.T. Francis and B.C. Cooray - both retired, and Peter Manuel.

De Silva officiated in two Tests of the recently concluded home series against India. Having first come into the Test scene against Pakistan at Galle in June 2000, De Silva has so far officiated in five Test matches. The new assignment will be his second as an ICC umpire. He did one Test in Zimbabwe against India early this year. Presently, Sri Lanka has only one umpire (De Silva) in the ICC panel. They will nominate their second choice very shortly.