More technology aid for umpires

Extended television technology to aid umpiring decisions will be tested during September's Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council confirmed on Monday.

Under the system, which was agreed at an ICC meeting in Cape Town on Sunday, on-field umpires will be able to consult with the third official on any decision.

Consultation will be optional but when a third umpire is contacted, he will be allowed only two replays before passing information to the on-field officials.

The third umpire will not be able to intervene unless he is called upon by the on-field umpires.

The new ICC panel of elite umpires and match referees will discuss the recommendation at a four-day workshop near Cape Town which begins on Thursday.

"Technology is an emotive issue, with persuasive voices on both sides of the debate," ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed said.

"By agreeing to a limited but high profile trial, we will be better placed to judge if greater use of technology is the way to go in the long term."

The move was also endorsed by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who is on the ICC sub-committee that wants to bring in the new technology.

"International umpires do a difficult job extremely well. They already make a very high degree of correct decisions, for which they receive too little credit," Gavaskar said.

"The ICC wants to support umpires and if this experiment proves that technology can make that contribution it will be considered for further use in the international game."

Mail Cricket Editor