After the cricketers had earlier opted out of the IPL 2021 citing personal reasons, the match officials have also joined the list. Umpires Nitin Menon and Paul Reiffel have withdrawn their names from the cash-rich tournament.
Menon has flown back to his home in Indore after his wife and mother had tested positive for COVID-19.
“I am in hospital taking care of my family members,” Menon told Times of India.
“I am on a break, have to see my family,” he added.
Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had confirmed that the two umpires have opted out of this year’s IPL.
“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.
Three Aussie cricketers Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye had already opted out of the tournament.