The Umpire Decision Review System (DRS) will not be used in the forthcoming Test series between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, it is learnt. According to the highly placed sources in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), no efforts were made to convince the host country to use the system for the two Test series commencing on Saturday in Harare.
“The host board (Zimbabwe Cricket in this case) bears the total cost of the system to be in place and it has been decided mutually to avoid its use”, the source, speaking exclusively from Harare, confirmed on Thursday morning. .
“Australia’s Simon Fry and England’s Ian Gould are scheduled to officiate as field umpires with Jeremiah Matibiri (first Test), Langton Rusere (second Test) and Russell Tiffin as local TV / Reserve umpires. England’s Chris Broad will be the ICC match referee.
Interestingly, Broad’s appointment has come after being alerted by Cricket Australia (CA) when the 60-year-old Broad tweeted an image during the recent first ODI between Australia and South Africa in which he was watching the Ryder Cup in the match officials’ room.
No Sri Lankan selector for Tests
In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has not sent any selector for Tests to Zimbabwe. This was confirmed by the president Thilanga Sumathipala.
Speaking exclusively over his mobile from Colombo, he said, “(We send) only when we have to change the squad from a red to white ball”.
The chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has been travelling to Australia with the 1996 World Cup winning team to Australia and it is not certain whether he would be available for the ODIs’.
(Pakistan Observer)