ICC to persist with controversial "Umpire's call" Rule in DRS

The Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has recommended that the controversial concept of “Umpire’s call” in the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) should remain as it is as they are of the opinion that the ball-tracking technology can never be 100 percent correct. As per reports in the ESPN Cricinfo, the recommendation will be made in the governing body’s chief executive committee meeting. 


The report in ESPN Cricinfo further stated that the committee which is headed by former India skipper Anil Kumble and several former cricketers including Andrew Strauss, Rahul Dravid, Shaun Pollock and Mahela Jayawardene took suggestion from other match official, broadcasters and ball-tracking technology supplier and upon their discussion, they have come to a conclusion that the “Umpire’s call” rule should stay. 


Ever since the introduction of the umpire’s call in the Decision Review System, there has been hues and cries from every quarter to do away with the concept. However not long ago, umpire Nitin Menon had given his views and also highlighted the reason why Umpire’s call rule should stay. 

"See, first of all, Umpire's Call is regarding decisions which are very close, the decisions which are 50-50, which can go either way, goes with the call of the on-field umpire. It is not a completely perfect decision that has been overturned, so it is a 50-50 decision which can go either way, to the batting side or the fielding side. When we know that technology is not itself 100 per cent correct, so that is when you need the Umpire's Call," Menon was quoted as saying by ANI earlier this month.

"When we know technology is not 100 per cent correct, so whatever the on-field decision is given, since it is a very marginal call, so we will stick with the decision the on-field umpire has given. This concept needs to be understood by the general public because they are not aware of why Umpire's Call concept is there in DRS. It is basically because it was a marginal call and 100 per cent technology cannot say whether it was hitting the stumps or not," he had further added.

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