ICC gives umpire referrals a thumbs up
Published: June 25, 2009
London: The ICC has decided to implement the umpire review system in Test cricket from October this year that will give them the powers to decide on bad light calls instead of the present format where light is offered to the batsmen.
Other results of the Chief Executives’ Committee meet
The scope for a day-night Test in 2010 was also discussed at the ICC’s meetings in Lord’s this week, as was harsher penalties for slow over rates..
It was also decided a new Future Tours and Programme (FTP) would be constituted according to the needs. The current FTP concludes in May 2012 and the CEC and the ICC Board received draft proposals for a new programme following on from bi- and multi-lateral discussions between Members ahead of the meetings.
It was agreed that further consultation would now take place between the ICC, its Members and other stakeholders with a view to the ICC finalising the new FTP as soon as possible.
ICC President David Morgan said: “I am encouraged by the hard and effective work put in by Members towards a long-term structure for international cricket.
“It is vitally important that this framework is put in place to create certainty for our Members, as well as other key stakeholders, including players, broadcasters and the public.
“We will work with our Members in refining the draft model over the coming weeks, consult with those stakeholders and seek approval of a new programme as soon as possible,” Morgan added.
It was also agreed that the concept of the day-night cricket would be looked into, with the scope for a day-night Test in 2010, if issues like a suitable ball (suitable colour) is developed and successfully used at first-class level.
Finding a suitable coloured ball remains one of the major stumbling blocks and Australia are keen to test several prototypes during a mock match, possibly during the 2009-10 summer.
The meetings also stressed that play should only be suspended for bad light only after umpires decide the conditions were unreasonable or dangerous, rather than ‘unsuitable’, as is currently the case. The umpires will henceforth take that call on their own instead of offering the light to the batsmen.
The ICC will also recommend fines for slow over-rates would be doubled and a captain of a team guilty of three over-rate fines in the same format in a year’s time will be automatically suspended for one match, the release said.
Match officials will also be told to be more strict in enforcing the playing conditions to minimise delays due to such interruptions as unscheduled drinks breaks, the release added.
That the current practice of appointing “neutral” umpires to international matches (both on-field officials for Tests and one for ODIs) should continue as is currently the case but that players and umpires should be surveyed for their opinions on the subject and the matter should then be discussed again by the ICC Cricket Committee in 2010.
The ICC Board consists of the Chairman or President from each of the ten Full Members plus three Associate Member representatives. Also present at ICC Board meetings is the ICC President David Morgan, who chairs proceedings, the ICC Chief Executive Officer Haroon Lorgat and the ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar.
Courtesy: Cricketnext
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