Miandad backs use of more TV technology

Faisalabad, Dec 1: Pakistan coach Javed Miandad joined his English opposite number Duncan Fletcher and called for more usage of technology and third umpire to avoid controversy.

"If we have the best technology available, why are we shy of utilizing it. It doesn't make any sense to me," Miandad said during the third day of the second cricket Test against England.

The first session of the play was highlighted by an incorrect decision from Mian Mohammad Aslam who gave Graham Thorpe not out. Television replays later confirmed that he had nicked the ball onto his pads before Moin Khan dived forward to take the catch.

Steve Bucknor on Thursday evening adjudged Nasser Hussain leg before though the ball had caught the inside edge of the bat before hitting the back leg.

"Why leave doubt in the minds of the two teams that they have got the raw deal. If the game's governing body is trying to make the sport controversy-free, why are they delaying the inevitable."

Fletcher has called for controversial umpiring decisions to be referred to a third umpire. The former Zimbabwe captain, in a paper for the ICC two months ago, had proposed that teams should be able to ask the umpires to refer to television replays for controversial decisions on three occasions in any innings.

"I don't want to comment on Fletcher's observations. But this has been my stand for the last couple of years and has been strengthened with each passing day in the field," Miandad, who played 124 Tests for Pakistan, stated.

Miandad said 24 cameras are covering the current series which focuses all the angles available. He added South Africa has started the technology on experimental basis. "It means technology's enforcement is possible.

"I don't want to say that all the decisions should be referred to the third umpire. If the technology and third umpire can assist the men standing in the centre on run-out, stumping, confirmation of boundary or six and verification of eligible catches, why not pad and bat or bat and pad catches, or whether the ball hit the bat before hitting the pad in case of a leg before appeal."

Pakistan were denied of making history in the West Indies when Doug Cowie of New Zealand adjudged last man Courtney Walsh not out though the replays confirmed that the `smiling assassin' was out having edged the ball onto his pads and Yousuf Youhana completing the action.