Officials from India, Javagal Srinath and Nitin Menon, will not be officiating the Champions Trophy 2025 match between India and Pakistan due to personal reasons. Reports indicate that Menon, an excellent ICC umpire, and Srinath, a revered referee, both chose to sit this one out due to personal reasons; Menon had a hectic schedule and wanted a break.
The ICC confirmed the absence of the Indian team when they announced the list of tournament officials. This is due to the hybrid concept of playing all their matches in Dubai, which ensures impartiality. Richard Illingworth, Kumar Dharmasena, and Ahsan Raza of Pakistan are among the notable names on the panel of umpires. This event’s match referees are Andrew Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle, and David Boon.
We anticipate similar arrangements for future ICC events hosted by India, where Pakistan’s matches may also take place at neutral grounds. The hybrid hosting model reflects the ongoing political sensitivities between the nations. The ICC remains confident in the chosen officials to maintain fairness during the tournament, notwithstanding these adjustments.
