IPL 2021: Umpire Nitin Menon pulls out from the tournament; Paul Reiffel to stay back after flights get cancelled

IPL 2021: Umpire Nitin Menon pulls out from the tournament; Paul Reiffel to stay back after flights get cancelled

Nitin Menon

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the only major sporting event taking place in India amid the pandemic. The COVID-19 situation is worsening in country by the day with as many as 3 lakh positive cases and more being reported. With such a huge amount, a plethora of acute problems like oxygen shortage has arisen. However, the IPL is taking place amidst strict protocols and bio-bubbles.

Despite the safety of the players, anxiety, uncertainty and positive tests in the family have led to players withdrawing from the tournament. Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa pulled out recently while India’s Ravichandran Ashwin also ‘took a break’ to be with his family. In that vein, two umpires Nitin Menon decided to pull out of the tournament. Australian umpire Paul Reiffel also decided the same thing but then stayed back after the concerned flight routes were canceled.

Local umpires to replace Nitin Menon; Paul Reiffel to leave only after tournament ends

Paul Reiffel
Paul Reiffel

Both Nitin Menon and Paul Reiffel pulled out a few days ago, but only now has it come to light. The former’s wife and mother reportedly tested positive and that was the reason for him to go home. Reiffel on the other hand, was anxious about the whole COVID-19 situation and Australia banning flights from India. He then decided to stay back after flights were canceled.

“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 back-up so they will be officiating in games in which Menon was scheduled to stand,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.

Therefore, the withdrawals won’t cause a problem as there are several local umpires available as back-ups.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Andre Russell’s ‘not ok’ picture with a bottle of alcohol goes viral

Also Read: “A matter of common sense” – Ian Chappell says ICC T20 World Cup 2021 should not take place in India