India’s prime umpire Nitin Menon has pulled out from the ongoing VIVO Indian Premier League. Along with Nitin, Australian umpire Paul Reiffel has also decided to leave the Indian league and return back to his home.
IPL 2021: Top Umpires Pull Out Of The Tournament
As per reports, Nitin’s wife and mother have been tested positive for COVID-19. Nitin has left the bio-bubble and has left for his hometown in Indore. “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.
Reiffel had to rush back to his country as Australia are soon going to close its borders for people coming from another country, especially India. Menon became the second Indian to pull out of the tournament after Ravichandran Ashwin announced his departure from the league. Three Australians Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa also left the tournament to return back to their family.
However, the cash-rich league is set to continue as interim BCCI CEO Hemang Amin ensured that every player and support staff will be safe in the bio-bubble.