Indian umpire Nitin Menon set for Test debut
Mumbai: India's Nitin Menon will make his Test debut after being appointed as an on-field umpire for the upcoming Test match between Afghanistan and West Indies to be held in Dehradun from November 27.
According to the BCCI, Nitin is the son of former international umpire Narendra Menon and followed his father's footsteps and became a state panel umpire for Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association in 2005.
Nitin, who has represented Madhya Pradesh in U-16, U-19, U-23 and List A matches, cleared the All India Umpiring Exam conducted by the BCCI in 2006 and started officiating in domestic matches from the 2007-08 season.
Apart from 57 first-class games, Nitin has also officiated in 22 One Day Internationals, nine T20 Internationals and 40 IPL matches. An elated Nitin, whose ultimate goal is to become an ICC Elite Panel Umpire thanked BCCI for the support and faith shown in him.
"The reason behind my smooth transition to international cricket is mainly because of the robust, competitive and professional structure of the BCCI domestic matches," he was quoted as saying by the BCCI.
He added that the Umpires Exchange Program helped him in his overall growth as a match official.
"The experience that I gained from officiating in our domestic tournaments and the opportunity given to me by the BCCI for officiating in the IPL as well as in first class matches in Australia, England and South Africa as part of Umpires Exchange Program has helped me in my development as an umpire," Nitin said.
"I am happy to repay the trust shown in me and looking forward to facing the new challenges of Test cricket so that I can achieve my goal of becoming an ICC Elite Panel Umpire," he added.
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Niqab incident: Nitish Kumar perhaps revealing his true colours, says J-K CM
Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised his Bihar counterpart over the niqab incident and said that Nitish Kumar might be slowly revealing his true nature.
"Nitish Kumar, who was once considered a secular leader, may be slowly showing his true colours," Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
Abdullah said Kumar removing the face veil of a Muslim woman doctor was wrong and cannot be justified by any means.
"We have seen this kind of incident here several years ago. Have you forgotten how Mehbooba Mufti removed the burqa of a legitimate voter inside a polling station? That act was wrong, and this act (of Kumar) is also wrong.
"If the (Bihar) chief minister did not want to hand over the order to her (Muslim woman), they could have kept her aside. However, to humiliate her like this is totally wrong," the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.
Kumar stirred a huge controversy after he removed the face veil of a Muslim woman at a function earlier this week.
