Hong Kong/New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) The International Cricket Council's chief executives' committee has recommended a modified version of the Decision Review System (DRS), which has been accepted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
However, the use of the Hawk-Eye ball tracking technology has been kept out of the purview of mandatory use of DRS, which will now become a part of all Tests and ODIs. The use of Hot Spot (infra red cameras) and Snickometer will be compulsory.
"The Chief Executive Committee today unanimously recommended (to the ICC Executive Board) universal standards for the usage of technology in decision-making (Decision Review System) in all Test matches and One-Day Internationals subject to availability and commercial considerations. The agreed standards will include infra-red cameras and audio-tracking devices," ICC said in a statement Monday.
"The committee also agreed that further independent and expert research will be carried out into ball-tracking technology and its accuracy and reliability. The continued use of ball-tracking technology as a decision-making aid will depend on bilateral agreements between the participating Members," the statement added.
The committee also approved the Cricket Committee's recommendation to reduce the number of unsuccessful reviews in ODIs from two to one. "This was a step forward as the game embraces the principles of technology," the statement said.
BCCI said their view was supported at the ICC meeting.
"The BCCI is agreeable to the use of technology in decision-making which will include infra-red cameras and audio-tracking devices. However, the current ball-tracking technology, on which the DRS system is based is not acceptable to the Board," BCCI statement N.Srinivasan, who attended the meeting, said in a statement.
"The use of the ball-tracking technology as a decision-making aid will depend on the bilateral arrangements between the participating teams," the BCCI said.
In New Delhi, BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla said the board's stand has not changed on DRS.
"BCCI stand is nothing new on DRS. The system is not acceptable in its present form. We have always maintained that we do not have any problem with Hot Spot and Snickometer," said Shukla.
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming also welcomed the move and said the modified version is a "compromise formula" worked out by the ICC.
"It had to happen. This is a compromise formula by the ICC since all countries were not totally convinced with the technology. Some aspects of the technology are not acceptable in current form so the ICC had to make some compromise. The technology is there to get rid of the poor decisions and we have to make sure that it is really done," Fleming said.
He welcomed the use of Hot Spot and Snickometer being made mandatory in Tests and ODIs.
"It is a good sign. It will help the game," Fleming said.