Boycott to Cricket Boards: Out Vote BCCI on UDRS; Do not Fear the BCCI’s Power

Sir Geoffrey Boycott has a solution to make the Umpire Decision Review System compulsory in cricket. His advice: out vote the BCCI on the decision.

Umpire Decision Review System

The former England opener is joining the chorus of voices that are of the belief that the BCCI is opposing the UDRS and standing behind their decision despite the majority of Test playing nations in favour of the use of the technology in sport simply because the BCCI can afford to.

The ICC Cricket Committee had recommended the use of the UDRS in Test cricket as well as ODIs. However, that has been rendered impossible with India opposed the UDRS in every bilateral series played. Though a number of foreign teams have favoured the system and will to trial it to iron out issues revolving the implementation of it, India have written off the UDRS and stood adamantly in the way of its implementation and trial. It has led to a disparity of situation wherein other teams are using the UDRS when playing each other but run into a dead end when they play India on the same issue.

Boycott, however, believes that the numbers alone should help the UDRS’s cause. Boycott reiterates that the power is equally divided amongst boards in terms of the vote at the ICC Annual Conference that will decide several matters including the Umpire Decision Review System. With every Test playing team having a vote at the conference, the UDRS should technically out beat India on votes alone.

However, Boycott, like everyone else in cricket circles, knows that it is easier said than done given that the BCCI today enjoys the luxury of being able to dictate terms if it so wishes. Opposing the board could entail repercussion that could be financially damaging to some teams. The BCCI and the Indian cricketers are today the leading flag bearers for the sport and for any of the teams to oppose them would have to come at some consequence although Boycott did not go as far as accusing the BCCI of being unethical or manipulative, as has been suggested by the likes of Tony Grieg and Arjuna Ranatunga.

The BCCI may well have to do some bargaining if it comes down to counting votes on the subject matter of the Umpire Decision Review System because it has frustrated more than one board and player to have India stand in the way and force their opinion down the throat whether as the host nation or as the visitors. With the ICC remaining silent on the issue and leaving the negotiating to the two teams, there has not been a lot of negotiating to do as far as the BCCI’s stance on the issue was concerned.

Cricket boards around the world will have the opportunity to force BCCI to tow their line. But Boycott is urging the boards to keep aside their apprehensions in the spirit of democracy in cricket and ensure that the BCCI’s opposition to the UDRS could not be the influential voice when the general surmise has been to implement the UDRS and work with the flaws than to shelf it. The BCCI may have their own way of looking at things.