DUBAI: India’s Nitin Menon has become the youngest empire to be included in the Elite Panel of Umpires by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The 36-year-old, who has officiated in three Tests, 24 ODIs and 16 T20Is, replaces England’s Nigel Llong and is the third from his country to make the prestigious panel after Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Sundaram Ravi.
A selection panel consisting of ICC General Manager Geoff Allardice, former player Sanjay Manjrekar, and match referees Ranjan Madugalle and David Boon, picked Menon.
“It’s a great honour and matter of pride for me to be named in the Elite panel. To be officiating regularly along with the leading umpires and referees of the world is something that I always dreamt of and the feeling has yet to sink in,” Menon said.
Menon, who gave up a playing career in his early twenties to focus on umpiring, said that the appointment is a dream come true after years of perseverance on his journey.
“Having already officiated in Tests, ODIs and T20Is as well as in ICC events, I understand the great responsibility that comes with the job. I look forward to the challenges and will do my best at every opportunity I get. I also feel this is a responsibility on me to take Indian umpires forward and help them by sharing my experiences.”
Adrian Griffith, ICC Senior Manager, congratulated him for being selected to the Elite panel and wish him success “Nitin has come through our pathway system with very consistent performances,” he said.
The other members of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires are Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Bruce Oxenford, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker and Joel Wilson.
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