Under criticism from all quarters following Mahendra Singh Dhoni's bizarre dismissal in the first India-West Indies Test match, the International Cricket Council has clarified its protocol in this connection, and admitted that the decision had left the players frustrated in the Antigua Test.
The protocol regarding situations where a boundary decision and a catch decision or a boundary decision and a runout are components of the same incident has also been issued to all members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.
According to this protocol, when a batsman hits the ball in the air to a fielder near the boundary and the on-field umpires are uncertain whether a catch has been completed or a boundary scored, the on-field umpires are entitled to refer the boundary decision to the TV umpire in accordance with Clause 3.2.4 of the ICC Playing Conditions. Once the boundary decision request has been referred to him, the TV umpire has the responsibility to make a decision solely on whether a boundary has been scored, the release said.
''If the TV replay evidence is inconclusive, the TV umpire must still make a boundary decision. His decision must be made using the existing convention in cricket which dictates that the status quo prevails -- ie, because no evidence exists of a boundary being scored, no boundary is awarded.
''This decision is conveyed back to the on-field umpires. In these circumstances, as no boundary has been scored, the only decision left is for the on-field umpire at the bowler's end to give the batsman out -- caught,'' it added.
The same protocol would apply to a runout decision in circumstances where it is questionable whether a boundary has been scored. In such circumstances, the TV umpire must first make a decision on that boundary. Once this decision has been made the on-field umpires can then decide whether or not to refer the runout appeal to the TV umpire. The decision on the boundary must be made using the existing convention in cricket and the boundary and runout issues should be dealt with as separate considerations, the protocol states.
In the Dhoni incident, the wicket-keeper/batsman was caught on the boundary line by Daren Ganga, who apparently looked like he had stepped on the rope, and the on-field umpires referred the decision to third umpire Bill Doctrove who took 15 minutes and was still without a verdict.
Captain Brian Lara then convinced Dhoni to walk off, and the incident sparked off a widespread debate over the manner in which the Indian was given out.
ICC's General Manager - Cricket David Richardson said, ''The confusion in Antigua arose over what the third umpire was required to adjudicate on -- a boundary or a dismissal.
''That confusion created understandable frustration among players and spectators and the clarification of this protocol should ensure a similar situation does not arise in the future.''