Chennai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Anil Chaudhary and Virender Sharma alongside Nitin Menon for the first two Tests of forthcoming series between India and England starting February 5 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
It means the trend of home umpires officiating matches since COVID-19 pandemic will continue.
Chaudhary will be the on-field umpire for the first Test beginning February 5 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with Sharma replacing him in the second beginning February 13.
C Shamshuddin, who is also part of the international panel, will be the third umpire for the first Test.
Chaudhary will replace him for the second match. Former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath will be the match referee for England's entire tour of India which also comprises five T20Is and three ODIs.
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Menon, the only Indian official on the ICC's Elite Panel, will be standing in his fourth Test, while for both Chaudhary and Sharma, it will be the maiden Test appearance.
The final two Tests will be played in Ahmedabad, including a day-night Test starting February 24 followed by the fourth and final Test from March 4.
The ICC had temporarily removed neutral umpires for all international formats owing to the "logistical challenges with international travel" since COVID-19 induced lockdown came into force.
However, recently, England's Richard Illingworth was announced as a neutral on-field umpire for the two-match Test series between Bangladesh and West Indies.
As Bangladesh have no umpire in ICC's Elite Panel, ICC appointed Illingworth as the umpire for the match beginning February 3 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
