BCCI on the front foot in DRS opposition

Reuters) - The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is against the mandatory use of the Decision Review System (DRS) in all international matches and will oppose its introduction at a crucial meeting in Hong Kong next month, the board’s secretary N Srinivasan told Reuters on Sunday.

Shashank Manohar, President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), speaks as BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan looks on (L) in Mumbai

The elite Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday recommended the use of DRS in all forms of international cricket and is hoping the proposal meets approval when the governing body’s Chief Executives’ Committee and the Executive Board meet from June 26-30.

BCCI secretary Srinivasan said the richest cricket body in the world would make sure the proposal did not get the green light.

“I just don’t understand why they keep raising the issue time and again,” a peeved Srinivasan said by phone.

“There seems no sanctity of the (Executive) Board’s decision. The Board had taken a decision and the issue was not supposed to be brought back again (in the June meeting). We are going to oppose it.”

The world’s most powerful cricket board remains a steadfast opponent of DRS and Srinivasan shot off an angry letter to ICC in March, claiming the technology’s “inadequacy” had been exposed in this year’s 50-over World Cup.

Introduced in October 2009, the DRS, under which teams have two appeals against an umpire’s decision per innings, has been implemented in 31 tests.

The ICC Cricket Committee, headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, recommended extending its use in all limited overs matches but Srinivasan said BCCI would put its foot down again.

“What is this Cricket Committee? It’s just a small sub-committee of the ICC which can only make recommendations. It’s for the CEC and Executive Board to decide.

“As of now, the host and visiting teams have to agree on its use and the BCCI position is very clear about it.

“It has got many flaws. We are just not convinced of the accuracy of this technology,” Srinivasan added.