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Saturday, 25 June 2011

PCB to say yes to UDRS, no to end of rotational policy on Prez

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will support the implementation of the Umpires Decision Review System but oppose the proposal to end the rotational policy with regard to Presidency at the ICC meeting starting in Hong Kong on Sunday.

India is the only country to oppose the UDRS and is set to do that again at ICC meetings.

"We really don't know why India is opposing the UDRS. They must have their reasons but as far as we are concerned we are satisfied with the impact it has had so far in Test and ODI cricket and we felt the World Cup was a good example of this system working and getting better in future," PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said before leaving for Hong Kong.

He said while there was no doubt that India was one of the strongest and most influential members of the ICC board but it was a wrong impression that it imposed its decisions on the other member countries of the Asian bloc or Pakistan just followed it suit.

"We support India where we agree with their viewpoint. But generally we have our own independent views on decisions and I think the fact that we are not in favor of ending the rotation system of electing the ICC Chairman or having amendments in the ICC constitution to prevent complete government interference in member board affairs is testimony to this," Butt said.

The ICC meetings will start with the Chief Executive Committee meeting on June 26 and 27, followed by the Executive Board meeting - June 28 and 29 - and the Full Council meeting on June 30.

The back-to-back meetings will discuss a number of topics, concerning the game's future.

The ICC Cricket Committee has recommended enforcing the UDRS in all formats especially in all Test matches and it will be one of the main issues of discussion on the agenda in the upcoming meetings.

The ICC Executive Committee Meeting last May unanimously urged the use of UDRS but the BCCI, which is against the technology, is expected to block its implementation.

Pakistan's main objection at the ICC meetings is expected to be to the proposed constitutional change in the process of nominating the ICC president and under the proposed system it is suggested that the Executive Board should decide the process and term of office from time to time, subject to certain qualifying criteria.

Pakistan is also opposed to another proposed amendment which aims at restricting government interference in the administration of the member boards.

The PCB, which happens to have the country's president as its patron-in-chief, has sent a legal notice to the ICC over the proposed amendment.

PCB Chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said the Board would also support the proposed changes in Tests and ODIs.

He said the PCB supported the use of two balls in ODIs in one innings, allowing two bouncers instead of one in a over and revising the power play concept in an innings.

"But we are not in favor of splitting one innings into two parts of 25 overs each as we believe this will prove confusing and upset the flow of a match."

The proposal to split the innings has come from Indian great, Sachin Tendulkar.

Ahmad said while Pakistan had wanted the use of orange cricket balls in day and night Test cricket but the ICC had informed its member countries that the pink colored ball was more visible and easier on the eye for television audiences, spectators and players.

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