Sachin Tendulkar Demands This Rule Eradicated From Cricket

Cricket is a sport which has always been evolving year by year with new formats new rules and high technology. The most discussed innovation of the contemporary age has been the addition of the Decision Review System popularly referred to as DRS. It was initially introduced in 2009 and ever since it has been both acclaimed and criticized. While most see it as having introduced fairness into the game there are still issues that lead to confusion and controversy. One of the most contentious elements of DRS is the Umpires Call and it is precisely this rule that the great cricketer Sachin Tendulkar thinks should be eliminated from the game entirely.

Sachin who has been referred to as the Master Blaster has never been shy in revealing his opinion on how cricket can be an improved sport. He has recently justified that Umpires Call rule only generates uncertainty and not clarity. In his opinion when any player takes the help of DRS it is normally because they do not agree with the on field umpire. But if the technology then reverts back to that same call then it negates the whole purpose of having the system itself. He feels technology even when it is not always perfect is predictable and must hence be relied upon in its entirety rather than relying on the umpire's call.

The Umpires Call is operative primarily in LBW calls. Here the ball tracking technology displays the projected path of the ball. If less than half the ball is touching the stumps then the initial decision by the umpire holds true. This frequently translates to two seemingly identical dismissals turning out to be two vastly different outcomes. It has been difficult to comprehend this for fans as well as for the players. Sachin believes that this unnecessarily confuses a sport where simple and clear rules are of great significance.

While defending his view Sachin also mentioned that just like the players umpires can also have off days. A batsman can experience a phase when he fails to score runs and a bowler can have a couple of matches with no wickets. Just like an umpire also can go wrong. That is the reason why he feels it is more appropriate to have faith in the technology in each case because at least it does the same thing each time. According to him even if the technology is wrong it will be wrongly consistent and that makes it equitable for all.

This is not the first time that Sachin Tendulkar has voiced his aversion for Umpires Call. Year after year, he has consistently voiced his opinions on social media and in the course of game discussions. Fans do the same too frequently because the majority feel let down when reviews are wasted or calls do not go in favor of their team in such close situations. The rule that is intended to make the game even more even-handed at times turns out to have the opposite effect.

For a player like Sachin who has seen cricket evolve from the late 1980s until his retirement in 2013 his opinions carry a lot of weight. He has played 664 international matches and scored more than 34 thousand runs at an average close to fifty. His record of 100 centuries and 164 half centuries is unmatched and he remains the only cricketer to have scored a hundred international centuries. Respected for his discipline his commitment and his capacity to meet any given situation head-on he has always considered more than mere personal success and thought about how the game can be improved. It is for this reason that when he advises that Umpires Call can be discontinued, the world of cricket pays attention.

The use of technology in sports is increasing with each passing day. From football's goal line technology to tennis and cricket's video referrals, each of the big sports now depends on technology to minimize mistakes. But the problem always remains to simplify the rules and keep them easy to understand. Sachin's proposal falls under this concept because what he is trying to do is eliminate the uncertainty and simplify the decisions for players and fans alike. Cricket already has so many rules which are complicated for a new supporter to know and introducing levels of technicality such as Umpires Call only serves to complicate it further.

The reason his argument becomes stronger is because players only review when they think the on field decision is incorrect. If the system then reverts to that same decision after partial evidence is presented, then the review becomes frustrating. Sachin's point is that once a review is taken, the final decision should be based solely on the technology. This may not always provide the correct answer but at least it will be consistent and transparent which is precisely what fans want to see.

The debate regarding Umpires Call has continued for a couple of years now and governing bodies are likely to consider its role in the game. Most retired players such as Sachin have advocated changes and their voice could prompt the ICC to investigate further into the rule. Till then the debate rages on but Sachin's intervention has yet again directed the attention to how cricket can be made easier and more just in the years to come.

Cricket fans everywhere love Sachin for his batting brilliance as much as for the knowledge he imparts off the field. From thrashing fast bowlers to playing tender strokes he gave the world innumerable memories during his playing career. Aside from the statistics and the trophy he is an ambassador of the game who never ceases to talk the truth. His comments on Umpires Call indicate that in retirement too his commitment to the betterment of the game remains unflinching. Fans will expect that decision-makers pay attention to his proposal so that cricket keeps on developing without unwanted complications.