BCCI refuse to change its stance on controversial DRS

Mumbai: The Indian cricket board on Monday refused to change its stance on the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) even as the International Cricket Council's (ICC) chief executive committee recommended its universal application in both Tests and ODIs.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still believes that the DRS is not foolproof.

"We wish to clarify that while the DRS was discussed at the meeting, the BCCI's stance on the same is unchanged," said BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale.

"The BCCI continues to believe that the system is not foolproof. The Board also sticks to its view that the decision on whether or not to use the DRS for a particular series should be left to the Boards involved in that series," he added.

The ICC chief executive committee during its two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur recommended the universal application of the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) in both Tests and ODIs after being satisfied with independently conducted research.

The CEC, during its two-day meeting over the weekend, discussed the reviews. It was satisfied the technology enhancements provided by new Hotspot cameras and the results of the independent research on ball tracking conducted by Ed Rosten, an expert in computer vision technology.

Rosten had tested the accuracy and reliability of ball tracking in a recent Test series and concluded that the results were 100 percent in agreement with the outcomes produced from his assessments.

CEC accordingly recommended to the ICC Board that, subject to the members' ability to finance and obtain the required technology, DRS should be mandatory for all Tests and ODIs.

The CEC also said that hotspot cameras must be included in the minimum requirements (two cameras) alongside ball tracking technology. The committee also made a a minor amendment to the LBW protocols whereby the 'margin of uncertainty' regarding the point of impact with the batsman should be the same as that provided for the point of impact with the stumps.

During the meeting it was also decided that the number of successful reviews will be retained at two per innings for a Test and one per innings for an ODI.

"We have made good progress in independently testing ball tracking and the new enhancements has resulted in the CEC unanimously supporting the ICC Cricket Committee's recommendation to universally apply the DRS in all Test matches and ODIs," said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat. (IANS)