ICC to rule on DRS

The ICC chief executives committee has recommended the mandatory use of the Decision Review System in Tests and one-day internationals.

The DRS is currently used in the majority of five-day and 50-over matches but it is up to the participating nations to decide if they want the technology to be used. Both participating teams have to agree to its use and India have been the one country who have refused to play ball to date. But that may well change as the ICC will debate and rule on the issue at a board meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur. The sub-continental giants' stance has angered and frustrated other sides, as it is generally accepted that the DRS has helped to eradicate the really bad decisions that can change the course of a match, with ball-tracking and "hotspot" thermal imaging being used in tandem to obtain the correct decision. India's argument has always been that the technology is not yet good enough but ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement: "We have made good progress in independently testing ball-tracking." As recently as Sunday, Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore complained about the absence of DRS in the first Test against Sri Lanka after umpiring errors went against his team and it seems likely that the DRS will become mandatory in the next few months. Whether the Indian will accept the ruling is another matter as they have been fierce opponents of the system ever since it was introduced a few years ago. A few bad decisions against the legendary Sachin Tendulkar might sway them to change their stance, however.