November 09 Saturday 2002
TV technology to be restricted at World Cup, says ICC 

ISLAMABAD: The use of TV technology by umpires at the World Cup 2003 will be limited to line decisions such as run-outs, stumpings, hit wicket and boundaries, according to a decision of International Cricket Council. 

In a change to the existing playing conditions, technology will not be used to determine if a catch has been taken cleanly, unless the vision of both on-field umpires is obscured, according to reports available here on Friday. 

Extended TV technology to assist umpires has been ruled out for cricket World Cup 2003 after a number of concerns were raised during the trial at Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka last month. 

ICC took the decision after examining a report of the technology trial at the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka that identified concerns with extending the use of television replays at this time. These concerns included:the changes in the role and relationship of the three umpires at the game, the inclusion of television producers in the decision making process, the significant cost associated with the introduction of the technology and the training and development needs of the officials to enable the effective use of expanded technology. 

ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, says the trial had met its objective in increasing the ICC's understanding of the practical implications of expanding the use of technology but that the ICC would not experiment with its playing conditions for cricket's premier event. 

"Although the trial taught us a lot about the practicalities of extending the use of technology, too many questions remain unanswered for it to be used at other events at this time" said Mr Speed. 

"The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 is cricket's pre-eminent tournament. It is of a standing, size and complexity far greater than the ICC Champions Trophy and it is not a tournament to try unproven playing conditions," he said. ICC General Manager Cricket, David Richardson also said that another issue of concern to the ICC was the inclusion of up to 12 additional umpires on top of the eight Elite Panel members who used the technology. None of the additional umpires had used the new system. 

Given the volume of cricket being played at the ICC World Cup 2003, there is a need to complement the eight member elite panel with up to 12 other umpires, said Mr Richardson. 

These additional umpires would have no experience with the expanded use of technology and "this would have created another risk if we had asked them to use the technology in this way for the first time at cricket's most important tournament," he added. 

While deciding not to expand the use of technology for the World Cup 2003, Mr Speed stressed that the ICC would continue to examine the issue and the results of the trial. 

"The timing of next year's World Cup has made it impractical to expand the role of technology at this event but it is an issue that the ICC will continue to examine in detail," said Speed. The outcome of technology trial have been circulated to all member Boards and will be fully discussed and debated at the Umpires and Referees Seminar and 
the Cricket Committee meeting in April 2003. "This will allow both officials and players to discuss and debate the issue in a considered and meaningful way."