Referral system is beneficial, says Lorgat

Indian cricket ace Sachin Tendulkar did not find the umpiring referral system fool-proof when he encountered it last year. But according to ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, the system has improved and is contributing in making correct decisions.

"The referral system, which Tendulkar experienced first-hand during India's 1-2 Test series defeat to Sri Lanka last year, has improved the rate of giving correct decisions," Lorgat said in Mumbai on Tuesday night at a media conference.

"The idea is to give sufficient help (to the umpires) to get the decisions correct. We have seen that the correct decisions' percentage has gone up from 94 to 98 per cent with this system in place," said Lorgat, who was in the city to announce a tie-up with internet firm Yahoo India.

"Anyway the ICC's Cricket Committee would decide on the matter in May, when it meets, and put forward their proposal to the Executive Board in June," Lorgat added.

Tendulkar was unimpressed with the system and had openly expressed his feelings.

'When I was there in Sri Lanka last time, I did not like the Umpires Referral system. There is still an element of uncertainty in the system,' Tendulkar had said last week.