Amid the unprecedented health crisis caused by second COVID-19 wave in India, two umpires on Wednesday (April 28) opted out of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
India’s Nitin Menon and Australia’s Paul Reiffel have withdrawn from the cash-rich tournament, citing personal reasons.
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Both the officials, part of ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires, took the decision after some players pulled out of the competition in the past few days.
Menon returned to his home in Indore after his mother and wife were diagnosed COVID-19 positive, while Reiffel went back a few days ago due to anxiety about the Australian government halting 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 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.
Earlier, Andre Tye, competing for Rajasthan Royals, left the tournament midway as he feared getting "locked out" of his own country while Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, who were part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, decided to pull out of the competition due to personal reasons.
Moreover, England’s Liam Livingstone (Rajasthan Royals) flew back citing ‘bubble fatigue’ while India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (Delhi Capitals) took a break to be with his family.
Meanwhile, BCCI’s interim chief executive officer Hemang Amin has ensured 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 stop 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 on Tuesday (April 27).
