The Bangladesh Cricket Board was successful in its last-ditch attempt to add decision review system in the two-match Test series against Pakistan that started in Khulna on Tuesday. Initially there was no plan for DRS in the Test series but the BCB said it had initiated the move on the night just after the three-match one-day international series concluded. A BCB meeting earlier had decided to take the benefit of DRS only for the ODI series.
However, after Bangladesh defeated Pakistan comprehensively in all three ODIs the BCB thought it would be a worth spending during test matches as well.
‘We decided to use the DRS as per the request of the management,’ BCB’s chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury told New Age on Tuesday.
‘Whether we will use it on long term basis will be decided later by the board,’ said Nizamuddin.
It was learnt that BCB had to pay $9000 for each day of the series to get the service.
The DRS charge per day is eight thousand dollars while the additional one thousand dollars will be needed for accommodation charge.
The last minute arrangement means two elite panel umpires had to join Nigel Llong to conduct the opening Test in Khulna.
Originally Sri Lanka’s Ruchira Palliyaguruge and Bangladesh’s Sharfoudoulla Saikat were appointed to conduct the first Test but they had to be replaced by Ranmore Martinesz and Paul Reiffel.
The DRS helped opening day‘s play of the first Test to stay free from any controversy as Pakistan reviewed two decisions without success.
The visitors asked for a review as early as third ball of the game after a leg-before appeal against Imrul Kayes was rejected by on-field umpire.
Pakistan later reviewed a bat-pad appeal against Mominul Haque but on both occasions Reiffel upheld the decision of on-field umpires.
Bangladesh also reviewed the leg-before decision of Mominul and were rejected.
BCB officials said they are negotiating with a company for a two-year deal to supply the DRS facilities and will sign an agreement with them provided it gets approval in next board meeting.
India, South Africa and Australia are expected to tour Bangladesh in 2015.
-With New Age input
