Umpire review system may go

New Delhi:

The future of cricket's umpiring referral system has become even less clear after South Africa decided against using the technology for its four-Test series against England.

The television replay system was meant to be implemented from October 1 after the International Cricket Council approved it, but major cricket nations apparently don't want it and no one wants to pay for it.

South Africa has now followed the precedent set by India when it began its series against Sri Lanka on Monday without the facility to challenge umpires' decisions.

The referrals haven't found favour with players, especially the Indians who used it last year in Sri Lanka. However the reason the system might be abandoned is not entirely for cricket reasons. It could be because of recession.

The ICC wants the member boards and the broadcasters to take on the costs of the technology but nobody wants to foot the additional bill. The system has only been used in 4 Test series in the last 15 months.

Dave Richardson, the ICC's General Manager of Cricket has been trying to convince the Cricket Boards of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to use the system. The ICC wants national boards or broadcasters to meet the implementation costs, which has been rejected by the BCCI & Cricket South Africa.

The Review System made its debut in Sri Lanka's home series against India last year and so far has been used in 3 other Test series with it last being used during Australia's tour of South Africa earlier this year.