Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf will not be able to officiate when India hosts England in the first Test in Chennai from Thursday after a delay in obtaining a visa because of a religious holiday.
The first Test was shifted from Ahmedabad to Chennai and the second from Mumbai to Mohali due to last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed at least 170 people.
"I would have gone to India to officiate in both Test matches but, because of Eid holidays, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad is closed," Rauf told The Associated Press on Friday.
"I had visas for Ahmedabad and Mumbai, but since the venues are now changed and the Indian embassy is closed for at least five days, it won't be possible for me to get there in time for the first Test."
Rauf said he had told the International Cricket Council, and that his visa problem will be fixed before the second test starts on December 19.
"There are still two more weeks before the second test at Mohali," Rauf said. "If the ICC asked me, I think I would have no problems in getting the visa to go there."
The 52-year-old Rauf has officiated in 21
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