 "Nitin Menon has reportedly cited personal reasons for skipping the 2025 Champions Trophy. Reuters")
Nitin Menon, the only Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will not be travelling to Pakistan to officiate in the 2025 Champions Trophy that starts from 19 February. Match referee and former India pacer Javagal Srinath will also skip the tournament.
According to the Times of India, while Nitin cited “personal reasons” for his absence, Srinath requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a leave since has been travelling for the last four months. “Menon has refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy citing ‘personal reasons’. Obviously, he can’t be officiating in India’s matches in Dubai, as the tournament rules stipulate neutral umpires. Hence, he is missing from the Champions Trophy," a source aware of the developments was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Srinath takes break after hectic travel schedule
Srinath is currently in Nagpur ahead of his duties for the first India-England ODI, which will take place on Thursday. “Yes I had asked for leave as I had quite a few days away from home in the month of November, December and January," Srinath told the newspaper.
All three members of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees including David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle and Andrew Pycroft are part of the referees’ team for the Champions Trophy .
Like Nitin in the umpire list, Srinath is the lone Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. Richard Kettleborough is one of the six umpires who featured in the 2017 edition of the Champions Trophy that will return. Richard Illingworth, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker were the others who featured in the 2017 edition.
Kettleborough, in fact, stood in the 2017 Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan. David Boon was the referee during the 2017 final, whereas Madugalle officiated the 2013 Champions Trophy final between India and England.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“We are pleased to announce our panel of match officials for the upcoming Champions Trophy. This is a credentialled officiating team whose expertise will be valuable in this high-profile tournament,” said Sean Easey, ICC Senior Manager-Umpires and Referees.
“We always try to name the most suitable and deserving officials for any event, and we are confident this group will do a fine job across the matches in Pakistan and the UAE . I wish them all the best and hope they have a memorable tournament,” he added.
List of umpires for Champions Trophy: Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson
List of Match Referees for Champions Trophy: David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft