Can Kumble help ICC convince BCCI about adopting DRS?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India may be adamant in its opposition to the Decision Review System, but ICC CEO Dave Richardson says the world body is hopeful of changing its stance by first convincing ICC Cricket Committee chief Anil Kumble about the controversial innovation.

"Can Kumble convince the BCCI?

"First of all, we must convince Mr Kumble. I'm more worried about them taking part in the debate rather than just sitting outside refusing to even talk about it," the International Cricket Council’s chief executive said during a media interaction in Mirpur on Friday.

"At the moment, Anil Kumble chairs the ICC cricket committee. He's a member of a working group set up to specifically review DRS and how technology is going to be used in the future. I don't want to put a time limit on it," he added.

He further said, "India hasn't accepted the DRS. How long would it take to convince BCCI? Your guess is as good as mine. I don't think we should limit ourselves to a certain time. The BCCI will make up their mind in due course. All that we need to make sure is that they're at least privy to the latest information, so that they understand the quality of the technology that is available."

The DRS was first trialled in a Test between India and Sri Lanka in 2008 and made a terrible impression on the likes of Kumble due to the inaccuracy of ball-tracking and other issues, following which the BCCI questioned its efficacy and refused to use it.

Besides Kumble, other members of the cricket committee are: Allan Isaac, Dave Richardson, Geoff Allardice, Andrew Strauss, Mark Taylor, Kumar Sangakkara, Tim May, Gary Kirsten, Clare Connor, David White, Trent Johnston, Ravi Shastri, Steve Davis, Ranjan Madugalle, David Kendix.

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Richardson is also confident that the BCCI will play a more active role in governance of the parent body, now that N Srinivasan is set to take over as the chairman of the ICC board in June.

"As the CEO of the organisation which he [Srinivasan] chairs, I will be having regular meetings with him.

"What I like about the position is that for the first time the BCCI will be very much part of the governance structure, playing a full role in developing the strategy going forward. So I am looking forward to working with the BCCI," he said.

Richardson is happy that the BCCI is taking up the leadership role in the development process of the ICC.

"Their [BCCI] approach was always to sit on the outside, not to partake in developing strategy. They left that to the other people. Now, for the first time, they have taken the responsibility on their shoulders to lead in developing the strategy," he said.

He said he will be happy if all member organisations take full part in the strategy-making procedure.

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In a roundabout way he did express concern about the leadership in Pakistan Cricket Board, with Najam Sethi now back in saddle in place of Zaka Ashraf.

He feels that, at times, it becomes difficult if representatives of the member nations don't do their homework.

"The ICC being a members' organisation, it is incumbent on each and every member who sits on the Board to do his best to contribute to the good of the sport -- to understand the issues, to come to meetings having read the papers and to fully participate in the decision-making processes. And that applies to all member countries, not only Pakistan."