BCCI softens stand, agrees to modified DRS

NEW DELHI/HONG KONG: Abandoning its rigid stand on technology, the BCCI today agreed to the mandatory use of the controversial Decision Review System in a modified version in all international matches at the ongoing ICC Annual Conference.

The modified version would have Hot-Spot technology but without the Hawk Eye ball-tracker, which would mean that the LBW decisions would not be within the purview of the DRS.

The mandatory terms and conditions for the DRS that have now been recommended by ICC's chief executives' committee to the Executive Board for approval tomorrow will now consist of "thermal imaging" and "sound technology". It has been agreed to remove the "ball tracker" from the ICC's original compulsory list of DRS technologies.

Hot Spot, the 'thermal imaging' technology now available and made mandatory in the DRS, will mostly be made use of for close catches and edges.

This means that India will, for the first time since 2008, be agreeable to using the DRS in a bilateral series when it tours England starting next month.

However, the DRS to be used in the England-India series will be without the Hawk-Eye ball-tracker and therefore not include leg before decisions.

The BCCI said it has agreed to the modified DRS which will have Hot-Spot but without the ball tracker. It said the ICC CEC has agreed that the use of 'ball-tracker' technology in bilateral series be left to the two Boards.

"The BCCI is agreeable to the use of technology in decision-making, which will include infra-red cameras and audio-tracking devices", it said in a statement.

"The BCCI has always expressed its willingness to embrace technology, for the betterment of the game. However, the current ball-tracking technology, on which the DRS system is based, is not acceptable to the Board. This position has not changed," the statement said.

"The BCCI's view was supported at the ongoing ICC CEC meeting in Hong Kong. The CEC also decided that the continued use of the ball-tracking technology as a decision-making aid, will depend on the bilateral arrangement between the participating teams," it said.

Indian Cricket Board had been opposing the DRS on the ground that it is not 100 per cent accurate. Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar had said that DRS would be more acceptable if it has Hot-Spot technology.


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