Waqar Younis vouches for a more reliable referral system

Pakistan Head Coach Waqar Younis wants DRS to improve

The Decision Review System or DRS as we know it has been a major topic of contention ever since it was introduced a few years back. While some teams, most notably India have abstained from including it in series involving themselves, others too have largely been dissatisfied with the accuracy or rather the lack of it of the referral regime.

The major point regarding the same has been, if technology has to be used, it should be foolproof; else why cant we rely on onfield umpires; after all they have been supervising affairs for ages. Commenting upon the same Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis said yesterday that there is room for improvement in the system which is currently being deployed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Talking to the media ahead of a function in Dubai which was organised to honour Younis Khan’s feats with the bat, the gaffer added that since most of the time in the DRS the television umpire retained the decision given by the on-field umpires, it makes little sense to persist with it.

"I think if the umpire has given not out and if the replays show the ball hitting the stumps at least by 25 percent margin the decision should be overturned and the batsman should be given out. At present if an umpire has given not out generally the system is too complicated for the decision of the field umpire to be overturned," he said.

Daryl Harper induces the DRS in a recent match

"I also think the call margin for the on field umpires should be increased from 50 to 75 percent. At present because of this system there is less consistency in the decision of the field umpires," the celebrated fast bowler added.

Interestingly though, the Burewala Express, as he was known during his playing days used to supportive of the system till a while back. He now feels though that despite its advantages, if the execution is so poor, the ICC might as well ramp it.

He also noted that the technology used for DRS needed to be further enhanced and there should be more uniformity overall in the use of technology, “I think it should cover all aspects of a decision which is under review including accuracy in length and height of delivery, sound and hotspot.

Hopefully we will soon have a foolproof system.”