After a string of cricketers opted out of the ongoing Indian Premier League due to the Covid-19 scare, now, umpires Nitin Menon and Paul Reiffel have pulled out of the cash-rich league.
Nitin Menon and Paul Reiffel Pulled Out of IPL 2021
Nitin Menon and Australian Paul Reiffel, both part of ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires, have withdrawn from the IPL due to various personal reasons.
Menon flew home to Indore after his mother and wife tested positive for the virus, whereas former Aussie seamer Reiffel went back a few days ago due to anxiety about the Australian government not allowing flights from India.
“Nitin has a small child to look after as his mother and wife have tested positive while Reiffel informed BCCI that he fears not being able to go home due to the Australian government’s decision banning all flights from India. The BCCI already had several local umpires as backup so they will be officiating in games in which Menon and Reiffel were scheduled to stand,” a BCCI official told Indian Express.
On Tuesday, BCCI’s interim chief executive officer Hemang Amin wrote to all eight IPL teams, players, officials, commentators as well as coaching and support staff that the board will arrange smooth transport back home once the tournament gets over. The BCCI advisory came after the Australian government decided to halt all flights from India till May 15.
“We understand that many of you are apprehensive about how you will get back home once the tournament concludes, which is natural and understandable. We want to apprise you that you have nothing to worry about. The BCCI will do everything to ensure that you reach your respective destinations seamlessly.
The BCCI is monitoring the situation very closely and is working with the government authorities to make arrangements to get you home once the tournament concludes. Be rest assured that the tournament is not over for BCCI till each one of you has reached your home, safe and sound,” Amin wrote in an email.
Menon and Reiffel are the first two match officials to pull out of the league midway. The BCCI was expecting another Australian umpire, Rod Tucker to fly to India for IPL but he too has informed the board that he won’t be making it to the sub-continent due to personal reasons.
Also read: List of Players Withdraw from 14th Edition of Cash Rich Tournament
