PCB excludes Hot Spot for SA series

The PCB has decided to not include Hot Spot technology as part of the Decision Review System to be used during the two-Test series against South Africa in the UAE. The third umpire will only have access to ball-tracking and audio aids for reviewing on-field calls, the PCB confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. It's another setback for the technology after Australia's Channel Nine chose to remove it for the upcoming Ashes.

The production cost of the usage of DRS in the series is supposed to be borne by the broadcaster and, according to the terms of the deal between the PCB and Ten Sports, Hot Spot was not made mandatory as it would have shot up the production costs.

Since the production cost was also included in the broadcasting rights fee - which means that the total cost owed by the broadcaster to the PCB is calculated after including production costs during the series - the inclusion of Hot Spot would have reduced the board's rights fee earnings by approximately US$100,000.

Pakistan had used Hot Spot during the 2012 home series against England, during which the technology was in the spotlight after it failed to provide evidence on more than one occasion.

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, was unperturbed by the exclusion of Hot Spot: "It (not having hotspot) is not something I am losing a huge amount of sleep over. I know there has been uncertainty over hotspot of late. But I'm happy there is a part of DRS in the series. I believe DRS is part of the modern game and it should be embraced."