AFP

Dhaka, Feb 23: Umpire Steve Bucknor returned to Test cricket duty during the opening match between South Africa and Bangladesh on Friday, his first assignment since he was embroiled in controversy last month.

Bucknor was dropped from officiating in the third Test involving Australia and India in Perth in January following his performance in the second Test in Sydney.

The 61-year-old Jamaican was accused of making several erroneous decisions which went against India, and acting on an official complaint by the Indian board, the International Cricket Council (ICC) sacked him.

The ICC bosses came under flak for the move which some saw as bowing to pressure from the Indian board which had threatened to pull out of the tour.

Buknor, who had officiated in five successive World Cup finals, has umpired in a record 120 Test matches and 167 one-dayers.

Only David Shepherd of England and Rudi Koertzen of South Africa have umpired in more one-day internationals.

The match referee for the two-Test series here is Sri Lankan Ranjan Madugalle who was flown in as peace broker to Australia in the aftermath of the Sydney row.