Michael Gough in isolation after breaching bio-secure protocols

Gough had previously overseen fixtures in the competition between Australia and South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan and the first-round tie between Netherlands and Namibia

English umpire Michael Gough is serving six days in isolation after breaching the bio-secure bubble at the T20 World Cup.

Gough, 41, who is renowned as one of the game’s leading officials, was stood down from New Zealand’s clash with India on Sunday and replaced by Marais Erasmus.

Umpires are being treated in the same way as players at the tournament if they fall foul of the Covid-19 protocols in place at the hotels and stadia.

“The Bio-Security Advisory Committee has instructed umpire Michael Gough to isolate for six days due to a breach of the event bio-security protocols,” an ICC spokesperson said in a statement.

Gough had previously overseen fixtures in the competition between Australia and South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan and the first-round tie between Netherlands and Namibia.

Earlier this year, he was one of the standing umpires in the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, having seen his reputation soar during the summer of 2020, when he was virtually flawless through the international summer in the United Kingdom.

Gough will be able to return to duty after his time in isolation, though he would have to isolate for 10 days in the event of testing positive.

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