MUMBAI: India’s noted officials, match referee and former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath and umpire Nitin Menon, will be missing in action in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which will be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 to March 9.
According to a reliable source, Menon refused to travel to Pakistan citing “personal reasons”. Srinath, meanwhile, told TOI that he had asked the International Cricket Council for a “leave” during Champions Trophy as he had been on the road 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 reliable source tracking developments closely told TOI.
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Meanwhile, Srinath, who is currently officiating in the India versus England white-ball series in India, told this paper from Nagpur (venue of the first ODI), “Yes I had asked for leave as I had quite a few days away from home in the month of November, December and January.”
David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle and Andrew Pycroft, all members of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, comprise the three-member team of referees for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Both Srinath and Menon’s names were missing from a list of 12 umpires and three match referees that the ICC announced on Wednesday, who will take charge of the proceedings in the eight-team global tournament to be played in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi in Pakistan and Dubai in the UAE.
Srinath is the only Indian in the ICC Elite panel of match referees, while Menon is the sole Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
TOI’s questions in this regard remained unanswered by the International Cricket Council, while Menon remained unavailable for a comment.
Meanwhile, Richard Kettleborough, a veteran of 108 men’s ODIs, and who stood in the final of the last edition played in the United Kingdom in 2017, is among six umpires who return for another Champions Trophy.
Chris Gaffaney, Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Illingworth, Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker, all members of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, are others who also featured in 2017.
Kettleborough and Illingworth, who stood together for the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad, are joined by Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Alex Wharf and Joel Wilson, all of whom officiated at the World Cup in India.
Boon was referee in the 2017 Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan, while Pycroft also officiated in the tournament. Madugalle returns after officiating the 2013 Champions Trophy final between India and England.
Sean Easey, ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees, said: “We are pleased to announce our panel of match officials for the upcoming Men’s Champions Trophy. This is a credentialled officiating team whose expertise will be valuable in this high-profile tournament.
“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.”
List of CT officials
Umpires: 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
Match Referees: David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft