Stripping umpires of power to terminate a match and giving it to the match referee was in the larger interest of the game as well as spectators, according to ICC Cricket Committee Chairman Sunil Gavaskar.The former India captain, who is on the ICC chief executive committee which recommended the ammendment to the ICC’s law for playing conditions in the aftermath of the Oval fiasco leading to first-ever Test forfeiture, said match referee would be able to judge a situation better from a distance.“We have recommended that the right to award a match should go to the match referee instead of the on field umpire because a match referee will be able to look at the situation away from the heat of the middle,” Gavaskar said.“By referring the decision to the match referee it will allow a little more time for the situation (in case of a controversy) to come back to normal,” he added. He also said such a change would be beneficial for the crowds .“In the larger interest of the game this change will benefit the crowds. It would be better than being denied seeing any more action from the match,” he was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.The recommendation to the amended law has been presented for consideration during the ICC Board meeting in South Africa in March.“The list of banned drugs should be refreshed and conveyed to the respective boards. Countries should have an education programme and ICC would help them with the education programme.“All countries should conduct the tests. If they can do it then there will be less chance of players slipping through and embarrassing the whole cricketing world at a major event,” he said.
