ICC Confirms DRS No Longer Mandatory

ICC Confirms DRS No Longer Mandatory

The ICC has confirmed that the Decision Review System will no longer be mandatory for all bi-lateral series

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Board meeting has concluded in Dubai, making a number of key decisions affecting the world game.

The board has decided to revert to a previous position with regard to the Decision Review System (DRS) and may have to delay the 2013 Test Championship until 2017.

The board has decided that the use of the DRS will no longer be mandatory and it is up to the two boards to agree on its use ahead of bi-lateral series.

"Although the DRS improves correct umpire decisions by around five per cent and corrects any blatant errors, there are some who are not convinced by its reliability," Haroon Lorgat, ICC Chief Executive said.

"We will continue to work with interested parties to improve the system while permitting the participating teams to decide whether they wish to use it or not."

However, DRS will continue to be used at ICC global events such as the World Cup.

Following the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012, the next global event was scheduled to be the Champions Trophy in 2013 before the ICC decided to replace with the inaugural Test Championship, due to be hosted by England.

However, this may be pushed back to 2017 as 'wthout the support and consent of the ICC’s broadcast partner, ESPN Star Sports, the financial implications on the Members and the development of the game would be significant,' according to an ICC statement.

Lorgat added: "It would be unfortunate if the Test Championship is delayed to 2017 but the board needs to balance several objectives."

Elsewhere, the board has approved the qualification structure for the 2015 World Cup. Four teams will join the ten full members for the competition in Australia and New Zealand.

Two will qualify automatically if they finish in the top two places of the ongoing Associates & Affiliates 50-over league which will conclude in October 2013.

The remaining six teams will then enter a qualification tournament with four other teams from the World Cricket League (for example those placed third and fourth in Division Two and first and second in Division Three), from which the other two spots will be won.

© Cricket World 2011