IPL 2021: The chain of pulling out from IPL continues, now umpires Nitin Menon and Paul Reiffel pull out of the tournament
India’s top umpire Nitin Menon and his Australian counterpart Paul Reiffel have opted out of the IPL due to personal reasons. Menon is the only Indian in the ICC panel of umpires and was recently praised for his umpiring during India’s home series against England. “Yes, Nitin has left as his immediate family members have COVID-19 and he is currently not in a mental state to conduct games,” a BCCI official told PTI.
India’s top umpire Nitin Menon and his Australian counterpart Paul Reiffel have opted out of the IPL due to personal reasons. It is learned that Menon, a resident of Indore, has left the IPL bio-bubble after his wife and mother were found to be COVID-19 positive. Menon is the only Indian in the ICC panel of umpires and was recently praised for his umpiring during India’s home series against England.
“Yes, Nitin has left as his immediate family members have COVID-19 and he is currently not in a mental state to conduct games,” a BCCI official told PTI. Paul Reiffel took this decision in view of the devastation of the Corona virus epidemic in India by the Australian government suspending flights from India. Menon is the second Indian out of the tournament after Indian off-spinner Ravi Ashwin. Ashwin dropped out of IPL after his family was found to be Corona positive.
Rajasthan Royals’ Liam Livingstone was the first player to pull out of the season. He was followed by Andrew Tye, who flew to Doha and then to Australia. A day later, Royal Challengers Bangalore‘s Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson also left the bubble. They were stuck in Mumbai for a day but have now left.
R Ashwin remains to be the only Indian cricketer to pull out of IPL 2021. He was part of the Delhi Capitals.
BCCI’s Interim Chief Executive Officer Hemang Amin on Tuesday wrote to all eight IPL teams, players, officials, commentators as well as coaching and support staff to ensure smooth transport for the board to be sent back home for all after the tournament is over Will arrange The BCCI’s advice comes after the Australian government decided to stop all flights from India until 15 May.