26 Jun 2013

NZ umpire replaced on elite panel

6:14 am on 26 June 2013

The New Zealand cricket umpire Billy Bowden has been replaced on the international game's elite umpiring panel.

Bowden and Pakistan's Asad Rauf have been replaced by former test bowlers Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel.

The extroverted Bowden had been on the elite panel since 2003, umpiring in 75 tests and 181 one-day internationals.

The less experienced Rauf was withdrawn from the recent Champions Trophy tournament following media reports that he was under investigation by Mumbai police following a spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League that led to the arrest of three players.