DRS to make IPL debut

Mumbai: The BCCI has finally decided to introduce the Decision Review System  in the upcoming IPL-11.  

“This idea has been going around for many years,” said IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Wednesday. Each team is given one chance to review an umpiring decision during a T20 innings at the international level.

The BCCI had earlier opposed the use of technology as it argued that unless the system in place was 100 per cent foolproof, they would not favour it. However, it slowly warmed up to the use of technology.

In December last year, the BCCI organised a workshop for domestic umpires regarding understanding the nuances of the review system. 

ICC umpires coach Dennis Burns and former Australia cricketer-turned-umpire Paul Reiffel addressed the 12 domestic umpires, who participated in the session.

Meanwhile, Shukla said Delhi Daredevils could get a replacement for Mohammed Shami if the Indian pacer was found guilty of wrongdoing by BCCI’s Anti Corruption Unit following allegations leveled by his wife, Hasin Jahan. Jahan had claimed that the cricketer had received money from a Pakistani woman.

Kolkata police is also investigating Shami on charges of various sections including domestic violence.

If ACU head Neeraj Kumar’s report absolves Shami of wrongdoing, he would be handed back his BCCI contract and cleared to play in the IPL. 

“Neeraj is currently investigating the charges against him. We are waiting for his report. We are not concerned over his private matters. As soon as Neeraj gives the report we will decide,” Shukla said.

It was also announced that the player with the best strike rate in each IPL game will be rewarded and a Tata Nexon car will be awarded to the player with the overall highest strike-rate in the entire tournament.

Captains not to attend opening ceremony

The BCCI has decided that the six captains of IPL franchises barring Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, won’t need to attend the opening ceremony scheduled on April 7. It is learnt that all eight captains will do a special video shoot on April 6 and leave for their respective cities that very evening itself.

Till last year, the convention was to have an opening ceremony a day before the first match, which captains would attend and sign the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ pledge.

This year it was decided at the IPL governing body meeting that opening ceremony would be held in Mumbai on April 7 before the first match between MI and CSK.

However the goof up happened because senior IPL officials didn’t do their homework on the logistical aspect of four other franchises who have matches next day.

On April 8, there is a double header with Delhi Daredevils taking on Kings XI Punjab in Mohali at 4 pm while RCB will meet KKR in Kolkata at 8 pm.

“The IPL team should have done its homework. They are calling Gautam Gambhir and R. Ashwin a day before an afternoon match. That’s absolute lack of homework,” a senior BCCI official said. 

“Sample this. If Ashwin and Gambhir would have attended the opening ceremony, they could only boarded a 9 pm flight from Mumbai to Delhi as there are no late evening flights from Mumbai to Chandigarh.

“Now from Delhi, they can't take a flight to Chandigarh on Sunday morning because the airport will remain closed. So either they travel by car during the night, which is a dangerous proposition or in the morning of the match to play at 4 pm. The less said, the better,” the senior official fumed.