Gavaskar committee to redraft rules
Shyam Bhatia
India Abroad correspondent in London
Sunil Gavaskar is chairing a three-day meeting of the International Cricket
Council's (ICC) Cricket Committee-Playing that will consider the
question of technology against a background of technical developments in
the broadcast coverage of the game and its affect on the role and
authority of umpires.
ICC chief executive David Richards and cricket operations manager Clive
Hitchcock will represent the ICC management at the meeting.
An ICC spokesman confirmed that the meeting had begun on Wednesday, and said, "The scope of the discussion will encompass a full range of
options, including maintaining the current situation, an increased use of
technical assistance in making decisions, or a reduced reliance on technology."
Australian umpire Darrell Hair, a member of the ICC panel, joined the
meeting on the first day to provide an umpire's perspective on the role of the on-field
and third umpires, in relation to TV replay referrals and decisions.
Key matters for discussion within a full review of playing conditions
will include the use of lights for Test matches, as well as penalty runs for various infringements, fielding restrictions and the numbers of players in a team.
Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis are expected to attend the meeting that discusses these items.
All decisions reached will be made effective for a three-year period from
September 1, 2001, although the CC-P will maintain an ongoing watch on
the technology issue.
The Committee will receive an update on the progress achieved to date in
the restructuring of the international panel of umpires and referees. Decisions relating to this issue will be taken at the Annual Conference in June.
All ICC Full Member countries, plus Associates, are represented at the CC-P
meeting.
The delegates attending are: Sunil Gavaskar (chairman) and Kris Srikkanth (India), Allan Border (Australia), John Reid Jnr. (New Zealand), Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Brian Basson (South Africa), Sidath Wettimuny (Sri Lanka), Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Jackie Hendriks (West Indies), A Roquibal Hassan (Bangladesh), David Acfield (England), Geoff Edwards (Canada), John Everett (Scotland) and Harilal Shah (Kenya).
