Waqar Younis wants a more consistent DRS

Karachi: Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis feels there is more room for improvement in the Decision Review System currently being used by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The former Pakistan captain noted that most of the time in the DRS the television umpire retained the out decision given by the on-field umpires.

He was speaking to the media at the function held on Wednesday night in Dubai in honour of senior batsman Younis Khan for his feat of becoming Pakistan’s highest Test run-getter and for having now scored the most Test centuries for his country.

Waqar who attended the function along with manager Intikhab Alam and the Pakistan team said that the ICC needed to tweak the system.

“I think if the umpire has given not out and if the replays show the ball hitting the stumps at least by 25 percent margin the decision should be overturned and the batsman should be given out. At present if an umpire has given not out generally the system is too complicated for the decision of the field umpire to be overturned,” Waqar said.

“I also think the call margin for the on field umpires should be increased from 50 to 75 percent. At present because of this system there is less consistency in the decision of the field umpires,” he noted.

Waqar who has been a supporter of the DRS in the past said that it was a system which needed to be reviewed again.

He also felt that the technology used for DRS needed to be further enhanced and there should be more uniformity in the use of technology.

The coach said the technology should cover all aspects of a decision which is under review including accuracy in length and height of delivery, sound and hotspot.

Waqar also called for more Tests to be given to the Pakistan team.

He said compared to other teams Pakistan was playing less Tests and the Pakistan Cricket Board should do more to increase the number of matches played in a year.

“To me Test cricket still remains the pinnacle of cricket competition and the more Tests you play the better players you become,” he added.

Waqar also praised the services of Younis for Pakistan cricket and said his recent consistency with the bat for the national team was remarkable.

He said Younis deserved all the tributes and accolades that come his way as he had served the nation brilliantly.

The PCB is yet to organise an official function for Younis to celebrate his recent batting records but it has already announced a cash prize of one million rupees for the former captain for becoming the first Pakistani to complete 9000 Test runs.

PTI