Thaindian News

Hong Kong/Mumbai, June 27 (IANS) The controversial Decision Review System (DRS) with Hotspot and Snickometre technology has been made mandatory for Tests and ODIs at the International Cricket Council’s chief executives’ committee (CEC) meeting Monday.

However, the use of the Hawk-Eye ball tracking technology that assits in lbw reviews has been kept out of the purview of mandatory use and left to the discretion of participating teams.

The recommendations have to be approved by the ICC executive board.

The Indian cricket board, which was strongly against the use of Hawk-Eye, has agreed to the use of Hotspot and Snickometre technology. India’s upcoming series against England is likely to have the modified DRS.

The absence of Hawk-Eye means the line decision for an lbw, such as judging whether a ball has pitched outside leg stump and whether it goes on to hit the stumps, cannot be used. However, through Hot Spot technology, the batsman would be able to review an lbw decision where he feels he has been given out despite inside edging the ball.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement that it has always expressed its willingness to embrace technology for the betterment of the game.

The ICC said the CEC “unanimously recommended universal standards for the usage of technology in decision-making (Decision Review System) in all Test matches and One-Day Internationals subject to availability and commercial considerations. The agreed standards will include infra-red cameras and audio-tracking devices.”

“The committee also agreed that further independent and expert research will be carried out into ball-tracking technology and its accuracy and reliability. The continued use of ball-tracking technology as a decision-making aid will depend on bilateral agreements between the participating members.”

The BCCI said it is agreeable to the use of technology in decision-making which will include infra-red cameras and audio-tracking devices. “However, the current ball-tracking technology, on which the DRS system is based, is not acceptable to the Board,” BCCI said.

BCCI said their view was supported at the ICC meeting.

“The use of the ball-tracking technology as a decision-making aid will depend on the bilateral arrangement between the participating teams,” BCCI said.

The ICC committee also approved the Cricket Committee’s recommendation to reduce the number of unsuccessful reviews in ODIs from two to one. “This was a step forward as the game embraces the principles of technology,” the statement said.