Calcutta: The debate over the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) continues even though the International Cricket Council’s Chief Executive’s Committee (CEC) recommended on Monday the universal application of the DRS, after its two-day meeting, in Kuala Lumpur.

Within hours of the ICC stating that the CEC is satisfied with the technology enhancements provided by new Hotspot cameras and the results of the independent research on ball tracking conducted by Dr Ed Rosten, an expert in computer vision technology, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a counter media release which said that their stance on DRS remains unchanged, that the system is not foolproof.

According to outgoing ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, the CEC unanimously decided that the use of DRS will be mandatory.

“We have made good progress in independently testing ball-tracking and the new enhancements has resulted in the CEC unanimously supporting the ICC Cricket Committee’s recommendation to universally apply the DRS in all Test matches and ODIs,” Lorgat said.

But the BCCI, which has long opposed the DRS, contested that through a media release from Board secretary Sanjay Jagdale, who was present at the Kuala Lumpur meeting.

“We wish to clarify that while the DRS was discussed at the meeting, the BCCI’s stance on the same is unchanged. The BCCI continues to believe that the system is not foolproof. The Board also sticks to its view that the decision on whether or not to use the DRS for a particular series should be left to the Boards involved in that series,” Jagdale said.

The situation, thus, is not at all clear and it puts the ICC proposal in serious doubt.

At the meeting, the ICC also decided to include Hot Spot cameras as part of the mandatory requirements for the DRS — a clear indication that the players’ view on the issue was taken into account. After the ICC conference in June last year, Hot Spot was made mandatory, but it was taken off the list in October.

The CEC added that “subject to the Members’ ability to finance and obtain the required technology, DRS should be mandatory for all Tests and ODIs.”

The apex body also clarified a minor amendment to the LBW protocols: “…The ‘margin of uncertainty’ regarding the point of impact with the batsman should be the same as that provided for the point of impact with the stumps.”

The number of successful reviews will be retained at two per innings for a Test and one per innings for an ODI.

The CEC’s recommendations will now go forward to the ICC Board for consideration. The ICC Board will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The other decisions/recommendations of the CEC meeting were:

Promotion of Cricket — The CEC agreed with the Cricket Committee recommended regulation changes, including that Powerplays be restricted to the first block of 10 overs and a batting Powerplay of five overs to be completed before the start of the 41st over.

The CEC also agreed that a maximum of four fielders are to be allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the non-Powerplay overs and the number of permitted short-pitched balls should increase from one per over to two. It supported the introduction of Day/Night Test cricket, with the approval of both participating teams and the provision of a suitable ball as recommended by the Cricket Committee.

Integrity issues in domestic cricket — The CEC, after hearing that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) nor Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have still not incorporated domestic anti-corruption codes, recommended that the ICC Board instruct these Boards to implement codes forthwith and, in the case of SLC, certainly before the start of the Sri Lanka Premier League Twenty20 which is planned for August 2012.

The CEC also recommended to the Board that the BCB be directed to deliver a comprehensive report on the allegations of corrupt activities during the recent Bangladesh Premier League.

T20 schedule — The CEC agreed to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s request of replacing the scheduled series of three ODIs and three T20Is against Australia, potentially in the United Arab Emirates in August, may be replaced by a six-match T20I series.