Debate On UDRS

India is not going to accept the DRS. Just like India did not accept the T20 format originally (what happened since is for everyone to see) . The 2011 World Cup was a perfect example of the UDRS in action and displayed all its pros and cons. With the BCCI continuing to block its use in any series involving India,the debate is not hotting up.

The ICC is proving yet again that it has no backbone and is really a puppet to the Indian board’s whims and fancies. Just like how India was forced to accept the UDRS in the recently concluded world cup,why can’t the same be applied for test matches in general. When 8 out of 9 member boards vote in favor of a system then,democratically speaking,the election has been won.

What is disbelieving is the actual reason why the BCCI is not in favor of the UDRS. According to them,the system is not 100% accurate. Well neither is the umpire. Does that mean we do away with them too? In fact India should be the first team jumping on the DRS bandwagon considering the number of decisions that seem to be against their top batsmen. (Anyone care to remember the Sydney test).

Then there is also the fact that this system not only works for bowlers,but for batsmen too. Sachin Tendulkar would be the perfect example of this. Tendulkar’s match-winning knock against Pakistan in the World Cup semi-finals was a result of DRS favoring him instead of the bowler –on 2 separate occassions. The irony is that it is Tendulkar himself who is vehemently opposed to the UDRS system. And one of its most vocal supporters is Virender Sehwag,who was adjudged out,twice,in the World Cup (semi-final and final).

In my opinion,regardless of the Indian board’s protests,ICC needs to make the UDRS mandatory for all international matches. When the majority of players,umpires and spectators are in favor of such a system,then there should not be any objections to it. Put simply,this is saying that the majority of people vote for one party,yet the other party wins the election. In a democracy this is factually not possible. In an dictatorship,however…. What does the ICC stand for?

UPDATE:

BCCI quote the cost of UDRS as a major stumbling block.

The BCCI,on its part,has been maintaining all along that they won’t be supporting the use of this technology because senior Indian cricketers are not convinced about its use. Further,as senior board officials see it,“who will bear the cost of the system which comes at nothing less than $55,000 per match-day.”

That is indeed strange as BCCI is the richest board in cricket and no other boards have raised price as an issue. BCCI is fast running out of options and excuses. WILL THE ICC STAND UP?

UPDATE:


The irony of not having DRS as MS Dhoni is given out on a no-ball:

MS Dhoni was wrongly dismissed off a no-ball in the first innings of the second Test between West Indies and India,as the incorrect replay was shown to the third umpire. The ICC has confirmed the error by the host broadcaster,IMG Media,which the match referee Chris Broad ruled an “honest”mistake.

And the ICC is quick to rub salt on Dhoni and BCCI’s wounds:

 In its release,the ICC pointed out that if this series had the Decision Review System,an ICC official would have been present to monitor the broadcast.

Nice one ICC.