IPL 2021: India’s top umpire Nitin Menon and his Australian counterpart Paul Reiffel has pulled out of the IPL due to personal reasons.

It is learnt that Menon, a resident of Indore. He has left the IPL bio-bubble. His wife and mother tested positive for COVID-19. Menon is the only Indian in the ICC elite panel of umpires. He was recently praised for his work during India’s home series against England. “Yes, Nitin has left as his immediate family members have COVID-19. He is currently not in a mental state to conduct games,” a BCCI official told PTI.

In Reiffel’s race. The Australian government imposing a travel ban from India in the wake of the rising COVID-19 cases led to his quick departure.

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Three Australians Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa have left home due to the unprecedented health crisis in India.

“Nitin has a small child to look after as his mother and wife have tested positive. While Reiffel informed BCCI. 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 and Reiffel were scheduled to stand,” a BCCI official confirmed to The Indian Express.

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 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.

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