Sehwag reaffirms support for the UDRS

ESPNcricinfo staff

October 31, 2010

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	Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar have contrary views on the UDRS © Associated Press Enlarge
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India opener Virender Sehwag has reaffirmed his support for the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), asking for its implementation in all of India's engagements leading upto, and including the World Cup.

"I am a big fan of the UDRS," Sehwag said. "I want it to be there for the India-New Zealand series, India-South Africa series and in the World Cup. But this is my personal opinion. I was given out two times when I was not out and in such a situation could have gone in for a referral that would have helped me continue to bat."

Sehwag's stand is in contrast to that of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) and most of India's top players, including MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, while Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan are for its implementation. India were part of the first trial of the system during their tour of Sri Lanka in 2008. They struggled with their referrals, getting only one of them right, while Sri Lanka successfully challenged 11 decisions.

Since then, the BCCI have ensured that India have not had to face the system in their series against South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia. The upcoming Test series against New Zealand will also not feature it, while the ICC has asked the India and South Africa boards to decide on its implementation for the South Africa tour. Plans are afoot for the UDRS' one-day debut during the World Cup.

Sehwag's next assignment is the home series against New Zealand, followed by the tour of South Africa in December. He was keen to play all the matches in the New Zealand series, though he is ready to go early to South Africa if the BCCI decides to send some of the senior players before the end of the one-day leg of the New Zealand series. "We would like to play a full team against New Zealand but the schedule is such that a break may be needed," Sehwag said. "It's up to the team management and the BCCI to decide on the matter. I would like to play as many ODIs as I can. But if the team management and the BCCI want us to go early to South Africa we will do it."

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