Champions Trophy 2025-India's Star Umpire Nitin Menon Withdraws, ICC Announces Match Referees

The much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 is to be played at three major venues in Pakistan that is Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi from February 19 till March 9. However, there has come up a big update, as Nitin Menon, India's sole ICC Elite Panel umpire, will sit this tournament out due to personal reasons, which will be noticed as Nitin Menon was to be part of the officiating group, but security and travel issues must be the reasons.

India games were shifted to Dubai due to security.

Although Pakistan would host most games, India is going to stage its matches not there due to security reasons. All the Indians will play matches at Dubai only; they play the opening game as a tied encounter against Bangladesh on February 20. Thereby, Indians save themselves travel to Pakistan since, in today's scenario it has been even more ruled out on diplomatic or security grounds.

With Menon out, the ICC named a list of 15 match officials that feature 12 umpires and 3 match referees who will handle the prize event. The ICC appoints neutral umpires and even if he were part of the panel, Menon could not have gone to Dubai as India's appointed umpire was one of them.

ICC Names Strong Panel of Umpires and Match Referees for Champions Trophy 2025

The ICC has ensured that the panel that will officiate the Champions Trophy 2025 is fully experienced, comprising umpires and match referees who had officiated major international tournaments in the past. The three match referees appointed are David Boon (Australia), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), and Andrew Pycroft (Zimbabwe). Boon officiated in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. Madugalle has the experience of overseeing the final of the 2013 edition. Pycroft was also involved in the 2017 tournament which added to the prestige of the refereeing group.

Of the 12 match officials chosen for the tournament, six had also officiated at the 2017 Champions Trophy. This provided some continuity and experience of elite pressure ICC competitions. The list of returning umpires is as follows:

Richard Kettleborough (England) – officiated in 2017 Champions Trophy final 

Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand)

Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) – has umpired as many as 132 ODIs-the most so far and Sri Lanka has a record of having the maximum officiated 132 matches.  

Richard Illingworth (England)

Paul Reiffel (Australia)

Rod Tucker (Australia)

Those will join include:    

 Michael Gough (England)

Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)

Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)

Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh)

Alex Wharf (England)

Joel Wilson (West Indies)

Notably, Kettleborough and Illingworth further officiated in the final of 2023 World Cup played in Ahmedabad, to assert further their stature as the top umpires in world cricket.

Nitin Menon's Decision and Its Ramifications

According to a source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, or BCCI, the ICC had actually planned to include Nitin Menon in the panel for the Champions Trophy, but he had declined to travel to Pakistan due to personal reasons. The ICC did not comment on his absence while announcing the final list of match officials.

This is not such a surprise considering security and political sensitivities about India's presence at Pakistan-hosted events. Yet, this means the Indian umpire who has been consistent and of solid reputation in world cricket missed officiating at this big ICC tournament.

Confidence of ICC in Its Officiating Team

The ICC's Senior Manager of Umpires and Referees, Sean Easey, is quite confident that the Champions Trophy will see some excellent officiating. He pointed out the experience and level of professionalism among those selected to officiate and added that they were fully prepared to conduct the tournament with complete control in both Pakistan and Dubai.

"We always seek the best officials to officiate such great events, and we are confident that this delegation will do an outstanding job. We wish them all the very best for a great tournament," Easey said.

Tournament Overview and Expectations

The Champions Trophy 2025 is going to be a very exciting event as eight top teams will compete for the title. Venues have been set in Pakistan and Dubai, and cricket fans will see high-quality cricket and intense matches. The final of the tournament will be held on March 9, ending nearly a month of thrilling international cricket action.

The security concerns surrounding Menon's absence continue to raise questions, but ICC has ensured that there is an adequate team of experienced and competent umpires and referees to handle this tournament. Even as the best cricketing nations battle for supremacy in the Champions Trophy 2025, it shall be an occasion of great pomp and gaiety even though logistical and political troubles continue to surface.