ICC Cricket Committee Rules ‘Umpire’s Call’ Will Remain, 3 Changes to DRS And 3rd Umpire Protocols Approved
ICC Cricket Committee, headed by former India captain Anil Kumble, has confirmed that the Umpire’s Call will shall remain despite the controversial take on it.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket Committee, led by former India captain Anil Kumble, on Thursday informed that the contentious ‘Umpire’s Call’ will continue to be a part of the Decision Review System, despite objection from many quarters of the cricket community including the likes of India captain Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli, after Surykumar Yadav’s controversial dismissal in second T20I, called the umpire’s call confusing. As per the existing rule, 50% of the ball should be hitting at least one of the three stumps for the batsman to be adjudged LBW on review in case an umpire’s not-out call has been challenged.
Kohli had argued that the batsman should be declared out if the ball is hitting the stumps, even if marginally.
“The Cricket Committee had an excellent discussion around Umpire’s Call and analysed its use extensively,” ICC’s Cricket Committee head and former Indian captain Anil Kumble said in statement issued by the governing body after the end of its board meetings on Wednesday.
“The principle underpinning DRS was to correct clear errors in the game whilst ensuring the role of the umpire as the decision maker on the field of play was preserved…Umpire’s Call allows that to happen, which is why it is important it remains,” he added.
3 Changes Made To DRS And Third Umpire Protocols By The ICC Committee
In another development, the ICC committee has introduced three changes to the DRS and third umpire protocols. Here are the pointers mentioned in the ICC’s latest release:
“For LBW reviews, the height margin of the Wicket Zone will be lifted to the top of the stumps to ensure the same Umpire’s Call margin around the stumps for both height and width.’
“A player will be able to ask the umpire whether a genuine attempt has been made to play the ball before deciding to review an LBW decision.”
“The 3rd Umpire will check a replay of any short run that has been called and correct any error prior to the next ball being bowled.”
It was also decided that the interim COVID-19 regulations that were introduced in 2020 to allow international cricket to resume will continue to be followed.
It means that home umpires will be asked to officiate games where neutral umpires were previously required and hygiene protocols like ban on saliva will continue.
“The committees noted the excellent performances by the home umpires over the past 9 months but encouraged the more widespread appointment of neutral Elite Panel umpires whenever circumstances allow,” the ICC release said.
