Thaindian News

Chennai, March 5 (IANS) The hotly debated Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) is here to stay, but there is scope for improvement as it is still not fool-proof, according to International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

The UDRS is being implemented in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup and it became an issue in the wake of a reported comment by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who said that either the system be followed in totality or not at all.

Dhoni was critical of UDRS after umpire Billy Bowden stuck to his not out decision following an appeal for leg before against England batsman Ian Bell in the tied match Sunday last although the replays following an India referral showed that the ball would have hit the stumps.

Subsequently, ICC general manager Dave Richardson reportedly criticised Dhoni for not being fully aware of the rules. The Board of Control for Cricket in India strongly reacted and hit out at Richardson for his comments on Dhoni.

Lorgat clarified that the incident had not affected the relationship between ICC and the BCCI while stating that there are bound to be difference of opinions.

“We share an excellent relationship with the BCCI. We have to accept that there will be difference of opinions from time to time, but we are mature enough to work through those,” Lorgat said.

Under UDRS, each team has the right to refer at least two decisions which go against it during an innings while referring it to the third umpire who uses advanced technology to determine if the on-field umpire was correct.

“My understanding is that it is a work in progress. We would continually work with the technology providers, to try and improve it all the time.

“We are aware that there is limited availability of Hot Spot technology. In spite of its absence, we have got something like a five percent improvement in correct decision-making. I believe one cannot ignore that,” Lorgat said.