Lorgat asks India, South Africa boards to decide on UDRS

The ICC has directed the Indian and South African boards to come to a decision on the use of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) for the upcoming Test series between the teams. Cricket South Africa (CSA) had expressed its interest in using the system for India's tour which begins on December 16, but it will have to persuade the BCCI.

"Discussions will go on between CSA and BCCI whether to use it or not and CSA will eventually make a decision in consultation with BCCI," ICC chief Haroon Lorgat said. "We would leave it to them to come to an understanding."

India's resistance towards the UDRS stems from their experience in the 2008 tour of Sri Lanka, where they only managed one successful referral as opposed to Sri Lanka's 11. The BCCI has already ruled out the UDRS for the upcoming home Tests against New Zealand. They had earlier refused the use of referrals for the recently-concluded series against Australia despite the availability of the requisite technology.

In recent times, some of India's players have softened their stand, with Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan expressing their support for the system, though others, including MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, share the skepticism of the board. Lorgat, however, was optimistic that they would eventually rethink their stand. "A lot of players are happy with the system," he said. "I am confident in due course the BCCI would give consent."

South Africa have used the UDRS three times in their last four Test series - against Australia and England at home in 2009, and in the West Indies in June. The exception was when they toured India earlier this year for a two-Test series.