If Lorgat fails, there may be no India series
Decision Review System (DRS) to dominate chief executives’ committee meeting
THE South African cricketing community is holding its breath for news from Dubai of the outcome of talks between Cricket SA chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, and his Indian counterpart Sanjay Patel, over what form the World Cup champions’ tour to the Republic later this year will take.
The pair are actually attending the ICC chief executives’ conference, but a meeting has been set to discuss the prickly issue of India’s tour, which already will have to be cut from what the South Africans advertised as long ago as July.
Since then India have confirmed a home series against the West Indies, which will encroach on the early part of what was supposed to be the Asian side’s visit here.
And what’s more, there have been reports of discussions with Sri Lanka and Pakistan around a triangular series in India in December. If that were to take place, the Indians’ tour to South Africa would be a non-starter.
Such an eventuality would be calamitous for South African cricket financially, with millions in income from television revenue lost, and franchises missing out on hosting lucrative Indian matches. (One estimate is a potential loss of $15 million.)
From a blue riband series against India, South Africa may have to console themselves with matches against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe as possibilities in the period from November to January.
It is clear that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a problem with Lorgat, over disputes they had with him while he headed the ICC for four years until 2012. If he can manage to save some sort of incoming India tour for December and January, it will be a feather in his cap, but it will take all his diplomacy skill to convince the Indian representative to agree to a schedule.
Meanwhile, the decision review system (DRS) and the playing conditions at the 2015 World Cup are set to dominate proceedings at the two-day chief executives’ committee (CEC) meeting in Dubai.
Although the ICC last year discontinued its practice of publishing the agenda and results of the CEC, it is understood the meet will see a divided house, with England and Australia joining hands to take on the other front led by India with support from its sub-continental neighbours – Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh – especially on the topic of the referral system.
According to an official, privy to the ECB-CA plan, both members want to continue utilising the DRS in bilateral series, despite its shortcomings, especially during the recently completed Ashes series.
Jonathan Trott, pictured, was given out lbw on review at Trent Bridge despite an apparent edge, while Usman Khawaja’s caught behind dismissal in Manchester during the third Test was upheld even though replays showed daylight between bat and ball.
Hot Spot’s inability to detect fine edges also created confusion, and towards the end of the series, its evidence was routinely ignored by the third umpire.