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| Edited By: G Krishnan |Source: DNA |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 10:46 PM IST
On India's refusal to accept the Decision Review System (DRS)
One of the main reasons India are against DRS is because they believe reviewing umpiring decisions is against the spirit of cricket. The ICC has always said that it would like have the same rules for everybody as far as DRS is concerned and implement it on a uniform, consistent basis. But the fact is that one of our members doesn't want DRS. But the ICC's argument has always been 'well, what's better: an umpire being accused of a cheat, his effigy being burnt, teams threatening to go home in the middle of a series because they are upset with umpiring decisions?' Geoff Allardice (ICC general manager, cricket) is arranging for the testing of the technology so that everyone believes and trusts what the technology is supposed to be delivering. Once we cross that hurdle, the confidence in DRS will grow and eventually we will end up with everybody accepting it.
On umpire's call in DRS and why third umpire cannot say it is OUT or NOT OUT
It is not easy to explain. If you look at the LBW rule itself, there are so many aspects to it. The way we use ball tracking does allow a small margin of error for the technology itself. We think it is very accurate down to millimetres. But even if it is out by a centimetre or two, the fact that there is a margin for error caters to that. That, actually, is an indirect reason why we have the margin for error. The main reason is we want a system that does not change the way the game is played and you will know that from watching cricket, when a batsman plays forward and umpire, before giving him out, must be certain that it will hit the stumps. When he plays forward, he has got more doubt than when he plays back foot. When he plays forward, gets hit on the pad and is given not out, cricketers will understand that he must have had an element of doubt. If HawkEye says that the ball is clipping the top of the stump, we still say that it was a correct decision and that is how the game has been played and is to be played. That is why we give that margin for error in favour of the umpire.
On ways to simplify umpire's call
One suggestion has been that if more than 50 per cent of the ball is hitting the stumps, irrespective of the umpire giving it OUT or NOT OUT, it should be out. If it is not hitting 50 per cent, it is not out. Even if the umpire has given it OUT, then we should make that NOT OUT even if it is clipping the bails.
On exhibition games planned by Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne and the Masters Champions League
I know once you reach the age of 38 or 40, you cannot jump as high as you thought you can jump or run as fast as you thought you can run. I think in Warne and Tendulkar, two absolute legends of the game, they have plans to stage matches, not tournaments or leagues but just exhibition matches in various places. They see that as an opportunity to play some cricket, which they enjoy doing with their friends and other legends of the game. In so doing, they promote cricket. If they can do so in places like the USA and other places where not much cricket is played, that will be a good thing as a whole.
On how ICC controls exhibition matches that could be promoting betting and fixing
These things (exhibition matches and veterans' league) are mushrooming. It is impossible for ICC to take control over and try to monitor each and every match, tournament or event that is played. The bottom line is that we have every trust that generally cricketers are trustworthy and that a majority of the cricketers are trustworthy and they will be playing the game as we all hope it is played. To suddenly just take the attitude of 'we not going to approve anything because we are worried that this might happen' does not make sense. If it so materialises in the end that 'hold on, there is some fixing going on' and we get to know, we can then disapprove the event at that stage. Otherwise, to me if they want to play cricket, we want people to play cricket whether they are old, young, it is good for the game.
On how to restore faith among public as there is still suspicion that matches continue to be fixed but there is no proof
There might be some people who doubt if they are watching a proper contest, but I don't think that is a reasonable doubt to have. If you look at the efforts the anti-corruption unit has put in over the years, the efforts they have made to gather intelligence and information, this is not a case of pitching up at a match and making sure nobody is on the cell phone in the players' box. They don't have the powers of the police. We know who generally are out there trying to fix matches, who might want to approach players. We have gathered this information. It is a bit like the security situation in Pakistan. How do you know whether it is safe or not. The only way you get some idea is to try gather as much intelligence and as much information you have and then assess the threat.
On international tours to Pakistan
We have not had an official report back on the recent Pakistan-Zimbabwe T20 and ODI series. Obviously, we are delighted with the reaction of the Pakistan public to the matches and the fact that the stadium was full for all those matches. As we said on a number of occasions, security is such an important issue. The process we followed before the tournament was that it was up to the members if they wanted to tour. They needed to make their own decision whether it was safe to tour or not. Zimbabwe obviously went through that process and decided that they were happy with the security arrangements. From the match officials side, it was a slightly different angle that you have to look at security. Obviously, our match officials are from various parts of the world. They don't travel with the team, they travel separately. They come in as individuals, they arrive at different times. The circumstances are different to the security arrangements of a team.
On the proposed ICC Test Championship
The bottom line is that although we announced the championship, it was in the form of four teams, two semifinals and then the final. That is not ideal for the Test format. As you know, a Test match can end in a draw and how do we decide who goes through to the final. I'd rather be in favour of looking at ways to create more contests for Test cricket through the Test rankings, increase the prize money down the line although the prize money is quite significant for the teams ending in top of those rankings. In four or five years, we may have a proper Test league. But we don't want to stop countries from playing Test cricket. And because of the length of the game and the fact that some series like the Ashes, we want them to continue in the form of having five Test matches. It is quite difficult to structure a league in the time available. At the moment, the rankings are doing a tremendous job in giving the relevance to the Test matches that take place from time to time and am sure countries like West Indies, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe will put a huge effort in trying to get their rankings up the order.
On day-night Tests
It is the last three years, the playing conditions provided for day-night Test match with a pink ball wherever the opportunity was there. We are at a stage where the pink balls are of good quality to use for 80 overs and survive those 80 overs. There is nothing to stop that happening from that point of view. I can understand there is reticence from some players of the unknown, something they are not used to. Hopefully, pretty soon some countries will identify ideal venues, climatic conditions that enable day-night Test cricket to be held. There is talk about Australia-New Zealand playing a day-night Test later in the year.
On Mohammad Amir's return
People have made mistakes. I personally was involved with someone who captained my team and made mistakes. I certainly saw that it was very possible for him to realise the wrongs of his ways and to do everything that he could try and get back and be accepted again. I have every faith that in Amir's case it will be very similar.
