India's opener batsman Virender Sehwag on Sunday batted for the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), asking for its implementation in all of India's upcoming engagements including next year's cricket World Cup. "I am a big fan of the UDRS," Sehwag told reporters in Mumbai. "I want it to be there for the India-New Zealand series, India-South Africa series and in the World Cup."
The review system will not be used in India's three-Test series against New Zealand starting in Ahmedabad on Thursday, while a decision on its implementation for the South Africa tour in December is still to be taken.
The World Cup will be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-April 2010. Sehwag's views on the UDRS differ from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and most of India's top players, including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar.
Both Dhoni and Tendulkar are sceptical of its effectiveness after their first brush with the system during the tour of Sri Lanka in 2008. They struggled with the referrals, getting only one right, while Sri Lanka successfully challenged 11 decisions.
"This is my personal opinion," said Sehwag, who has scored 7,152 runs from 81 Tests at an average of 53.37. "I was given out two times when I was not out and in such a situation I could have gone in for a referral that would have that would have helped me continue to bat."
The International Cricket Council, the game's world governing body, has urged boards to rethink their stand on UDRS.
"A lot of players are happy with the system," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said at a press conference in Mumbai last week.
"The BCCI is still not convinced about the reliability of the technology in the Umpires Decision Review System. But I am confident in due course the BCCI would give consent.
"South Africa have used the UDRS three times in their last four Test series - against Australia and England at home in 2009, and in the West Indies in June. "We would leave it to the two boards to come to an understanding on the issue."