Mumbai: Pakistan's Asad Rauf has had to step down as an umpire for the scheduled first Test between England and India as he could not get the proper visa, the International Cricket Council said on Sunday.

The first Test, starting on Thursday, December 11, was moved to Chennai from Ahmedabad and the final Test to Mohali from Mumbai following last week's militant attacks that killed at least 190 people.

ICC's elite panel umpire Asad Rauf of Pakistan had to shelve his plans to officiate in the first Test between India and England at Chennai from December 11 due to visa problem and he is unsure about his availability for the second and final match as well. Bowden will join Australia's Daryl Harper as an on-field umpire for the Chennai Test.

Asad said he had informed the ICC about his problem and was not sure if he would be able to get a visa for the Mohali Test. "I had no time to apply for a visa for the December 11-15 Chennai match due to the Eid festival holidays. But the Indian embassy has announced a new visa policy so I am not sure about the second Test as well," he said.

The other ICC appointments for the series - the other on-field umpire, Daryl Harper of Australia and match referee Jeff Crowe of New Zealand - remain unchanged.