Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has questioned the rationale behind the continued suspension of cricket ties between Pakistan and India and has also voiced his surprise over the opposition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to the full implementation of the Decision Review System (DRS).
Talking to journalists here Friday, Misbah said: “It is beyond my understanding as to why the Indians oppose the DRS all the time. It is a modern technology that is not harming the sport. It is in its infant stages and can be made more productive with time.”
Indian players and the BCCI have opposed the use of the DRS in their ongoing series in Australia as they feel that the technology has many flaws. They have also rejected moves to have it for their one-day tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka to be held in February in Australia.
In contrast, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB) will have it for the Test and one-day series in the United Arab Emirates, starting from next month. “I support the DRS because it does give that chance to the players and umpires to rectify errors which at times can be pretty decisive in a match,” Misbah insisted. “There is no doubt that there is room for improvement in this technology and that will only be worked out if it is implemented consistently in all series,” he added. Last October, the ICC bowed to India’s wishes and made the DRS optional, four months after saying its use was compulsory. The ICC’s Executive Board reverted to its original decision of allowing the participating nations in a bilateral series to decide on using the technology. Under the system, teams are allowed two television reviews per innings if they feel that the on-field umpires have not given the correct decision. But the influential BCCI has constantly opposed even the partial use of the DRS, saying the current technology was not suitable. Misbah though feels there was nothing wrong with the technology and it has won the approval of most teams and players. “The cost and technology issues can be worked out but that can only be done if it is used on regular basis and backed by all boards,” he added. Misbah said the governments of Pakistan and India needed to sort out the issues for a bilateral series. “As a player I only know that for me an Indo-Pak series is always special and there are millions of people in both countries eager to see the teams play against each other regularly. I know that due to the current hiatus millions of cricket fans are being deprived of some high class cricket contests, which also boost the image of the sport,” he said.
On the issue of the appointment of new coach for the national cricket team, the captain said, “Whosoever the board appoints as permanent coach I am confident I can develop a good working relationship with him for the betterment of the team. I have enjoyed very good working relations with Waqar Younis and Mohsin Khan. “So I don’t see too many issues in this area.” The 37-year old Pakistani batsman said he was looking forward to the upcoming series against England as it should be “a closely fought series with quality performers in both teams”.
