India have reasons to oppose DRS, says ICC CEO

The Board of Control for Cricket in India does "have its own reasons" for opposing the controversial Decision Review System (DRS), says International Cricket Council Chief Executive Dave Richardson, admitting that the technology is not foolproof yet.

The DRS is under the scanner following umpiring howlers in the first Ashes Test between England and Australia.

"India have got good reasons (for opposing) and some issues are debatable. Obviously, we can improve and discuss on things like three reviews," Richardson told former England captain David Gower during a television interaction at the lunch break on the opening day of the second Ashes Test.

"The fact is that there are 10 members and each has got a vote, anyone can say that "listen we don't want to agree". If at least seven countries are ready to agree to use DRS, it will be done," he said.

The Test at Trent Bridge, which witnessed some umpiring howlers, was a "difficult one", said Richardson, a former South Africa wicketkeeper.

Asked why ICC issued a press statement on the umpiring statistics after the match, Richardson replied, "I think we needed to put things straight. It was a difficult Test match and the pitch wasn't an easy one. Every five overs, something was happening and we needed to come clean and admit the errors. There were seven umpiring errors and four were corrected.

"In an utopian world, we love everything to be perfect but that's not the case. Despite all the guidelines and protocols, we still have air crashes," he said.

On Gower's query on whether the best English or Australian umpires be allowed to officiate, Richardson replied, "We have given it a thought of having non-neutral umpires but then if he makes a mistake, the perception of being bias comes into  picture."

The other issue on the ICC’s priority list is zero tolerance towards corruption.

"It's big issue as far as some of the domestic T20 leagues are concerned."

Image: Dave Richardson

Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images