ICC meets to go high-tech

The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport's governing body, is to focus on the use of technology for decision making at next week's Cricket Committee-Playing (CC-P) meeting taking place in London from May 23-25.

The three-yearly review of playing conditions for international cricket is also on the meeting's agenda.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar is to chair the meeting, which is due to consider technological developments in the broadcast coverage of the game and how it affects the role and authority of match umpires.

Australian umpire Darrell Hair, a member of the ICC panel, is scheduled to join the meeting on the first day to give an umpire's perspective on the role of the on-field and third umpires, in relation to TV replay referrals and decisions.

After having delegated decision making authority from the ICC Executive board, the CC-P is to review the standard playing conditions for all Tests and one day internationals.

Among key matters to be discussed within a full review of playing conditions will be the use of lights and penalty runs for Test matches, as well as fielding restrictions, number of players in a team, penalty runs and the Duckworth/Lewis scoring method for one day internationals.

Any decisions reached at the meeting will be effective for a three year period from September 1, although the CC-P will maintain an ongoing watching brief on the technology issue.

Mail Cricket Editor