Tendulkar not convinced about ICC umpires referral system

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar today said he was not convinced about the ICC Umpires Referral system which he experienced first hand on India's tour of Sri Lanka last year.

"When I was there in Sri Lanka last time, I did not particularly like the Umpires Referral system. There is still an element of uncertainty in the system," the champion batsman said here after launching a new product for Aviva Life Insurance.

"I still prefer the hotspot system to identify the contact between the ball and bat. The LBW decisions are not convincing enough as the Hawk Eye gives a 22-yard view which the new referral system does not agree with... as to whether the ball would have hit the stumps or not," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar also ruled himself out from playing in two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand in India's tour, commencing later this month. About his decision not to play anymore Twenty20 Internationals, Tendulkar said that the reason was he did not want to disturb the settled team, which won the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.

Sachin Tendulkar has revealed that he does not see himself as part of India's Twenty20 plans. The master batsman, who returned home after the ODIs in Sri Lanka without playing the only T20 there, said he's looking forward to the New Zealand tour but Twenty20 is not part of his plans.

Tendulkar said he wanted to rest after the England tour in 2007 and hence did not take part in the World Twenty20 in South Africa, immediately after that.

"I was tired and wanted to take a break after the England trip in 2007. It was a conscious decision not to play then and I did not want to have the feeling of not being able to give my best," Tendulkar told reporters at a press conference in the city today.

India won the World Twenty20 and Tendulkar thinks it's wise to leave the winning combination undisturbed. "I do not want to disturb the present winning combination. The team is doing well and I do not want to be part of the Twenty20 set-up."

India start the New Zealand tour with two T20 internationals. While ruling himself out of those fixtures, Tendulkar maintained that winning in New Zealand will be a challenge.

"It is a fairly new team and the challenge is definitely there. Playing New Zealand first (is a challenge). And playing in New Zealand, where the conditions are going to be tough, is a completely different experience," Tendulkar said before adding, "In places like Wellington, from one end a bowler comes at 135kph with the breeze behind him and then suddenly you are facing someone else who is very slow and there is no wind. With the wind behind the bowler it affects the batsman as well - he can't keep his eyes open long."