BCCI chief Anurag Thakur has indicated that the board is open to use the ‘controversial’ Decision Review System (DRS). He, however, maintained that the technology must reach close to the level of perfection.
“BCCI is open to the DRS. But is the technology 100 percent foolproof? There were shortcomings. We have told the cricket committee in ICC too look into the DRS and the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) was supposed to give a report,” Thakur said here on Monday.
Stressing that they are ‘not unwilling’ to implement DRS, Thakur said that he would take the issue forward at the ICC’s quarterly CEC meeting at Capetown from October 9-13.
“We will again look at the performance of the DRS. If it’s satisfactory, BCCI is open to use the DRS. We are 13 hosting 13 Tests at home this season, then why not? It all depends on the feedback and the outcome of the latest trials on DRS,” Thakur said.
“In the digital age of 21st century, there’s nothing which is stopping us to use the technology. We believe in that. We want to be close to perfection if not perfect,” Thakur added.
He further said India head coach Anil Kumble, who is the chairman of ICC cricket committee, said was looking into it matter.
“We want to make it foolproof (DRS), that’s the idea. We have Kumble who represents in the cricket committee and he’s the coach he can discuss with (skipper) Virat Kohli and can put the suggestions forward. If umpires are getting 95-97 percent of the decisions and the same the with DRS then what’s the change? So the only issue is if not 100 per cent then how better we can do than the field umpires,” he said.
Thakur cited the example of the ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh where they could not come to a conclusion whether they were fully satisfied wit the DRS technology.
“In the CEC meeting of ICC in Edinburgh, even the ICC said they need more time. BCCI is always open about reforms if you see the last 18 months,” the BCCI chief said.
Kohli, on the eve of the second Test, had given a strong indication that India would start using the DRS in the future. No other team barring India opposes DRS.
In ICC 50-over tournaments, India are forced to use DRS, but that uniformity does not extend to Tests because they are seen as bilateral arrangements.
With PTI Inputs
