Hair blames DRS for umpire Asoka De Silva's removal

Updated on: 18 March,2011 08:00 AM IST |
Bipin Dani |

Former ICC Elite Panel umpire Darrell Hair blamed the Decision Review System (DRS) for Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva's removal from important World Cup matches

Former ICC Elite Panel umpire Darrell Hair blamed the Decision Review System (DRS) for Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva's removal from important World Cup matches.

Speaking from Sydney, Hair told MiD DAY:u00a0 "I feel for Asoka de Silva being publicly cut from his appointments at the Cricket World Cup. "His confidence must be destroyed but that was always going to happen with the DRS. It was obvious, once DRS came into operation, ICC had a readymade tool to rank umpires.

"Unfortunately, this does not always give the full picture of how good an umpire is or what he needs to be working on to improve." Hair, who in November 2006 had been banned by ICC from officiating international Test matches, added: "Asoka has shown over a long period that he is a good umpire. Maybe, he just needs to refine his technique and concentration levels.

"I hope ICC decides to work with Asoka to get him back on track. He needs to be mentored and supported by his own colleagues.

"Without assistance from the ICC, unfortunately Asoka's career may be over at the international level."

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