Aleem Dar wants uniform Decision Review System
Aleem Dar, the three-time ICC Umpire of the Year, has said the inconsistent use of the Decision Review System (DRS) affects an umpire's performance and has called for the system to be used uniformly across all international series
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Oct-2011
Aleem Dar says using technology like the Decision Review System is good for the game • Getty Images
Aleem Dar, the three-time ICC Umpire of the Year, has said the inconsistent use of the Decision Review System (DRS) affects an umpire's performance and has called for the system to be used uniformly across all international series.
"There's no issue in using technology," Dar told PTI. It's a good addition to the game but the umpires should stop thinking about it when making a decision. And, instead of being used randomly, the system should be enforced on a permanent basis in all series ... It's not being used in all series and that affects the umpires' performance. I believe inconsistent usage is not good for the game either."
Dar's is the latest voice to join the debate over the use of technology. On Australia's recent tour of Sri Lanka, Brad Haddin, Australia's wicketkeeper, said the system should be used consistently by all the international teams or not at all. On the other hand, the BCCI recently announced it was once again opposed to all forms of the DRS after India's tour of England, despite having agreed to a minimum standard at the ICC's annual conference in June.
The ICC also allows teams to opt out of implementing the system altogether for commercial reasons, as is the case with the upcoming Bangladesh-West Indies series, further complicating the issue.
Dar also said the ICC's new rules, which went into effect on October 1, have added to the responsibility of the umpires. The amendments to the playing conditions include having two new balls to start an innings, a redefined period of Powerplays and a ban on the use of runners. Confusion over the new rule on runners led to a 28-minute delay during the Faysal Bank T20 Cup final, and Dar said the umpires need to be more vigilant.
"I feel my responsibility has increased and we need to be more focussed," Dar told the Express Tribune. "The team [in the Faysal Bank T20] was allowed a runner because the tournament was played with the previous playing rules. Umpires may face such situations after the rule changes and that's an increased burden."