The Hot Spot technology, which is used in adjudging close caught-behind and LBW decisions under the ICC's Decision Review System, may not be used for most of the cricket World Cup in South Asia next year due to high cost and shortage of cameras.
"For the World Cup 2011, there is no chance for Hot Spot being available for all 50-plus early round matches," Warren Brennan, the owner of BBG Sports, the firm that supplies the technology, told Cricinfo.
"At present we only have four Hot Spot cameras, this would limit us to providing Hot Spot for only quarter-final matches onwards," he said.
Brennan said there are just not enough cameras for the World Cup.
"This would include two cameras for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the possibility of four cameras for the final in Mumbai. This is something I have discussed with David Richardson from the ICC, but have not had any updates in the past six weeks," he said.
With just a handful of companies capable of making such cameras, Brennan said it is important to check veracity.
"We have to go through various processes. Are they good guys? Can we trust them? Have they sold any cameras to Al-Qaeda? You can't just go into a 7-Eleven and buy one," he said.
Under the current system, the cost for installing the Hot Spot technology is borne by the broadcaster and not everyone is willing.
"They (the ICC) know that if they want to take the system further, they have to figure out the funding models," Brennan said.
