DRS to make T20 debut with the PSL knockouts

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been an outstanding enterprise for cricket this year with a number of international stars rubbing shoulders in the tournament. However, the PSL 2017 did have it’s share of scandal this with match-fixing allegations and arrests. To PCB’s relief, who have been deprived of major revenue with Pakistan’s home matches shifted elsewhere, the final of the PSL will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Najam Sethi, the PSL Chairman, today (February 28) announced via Twitter that the PSL will introduce the Decision Review System(DRS) for the playoffs of the PSL. A first for a domestic T20 league across the globe. Lucrative leagues like the BBL, IPL, CPL et al have been reluctant to introduce the DRS, sighting the fact that it will be added expense and will break the flow of high-voltage T20 games.

However, PSL has decided to go ahead with DRS from its knockout stage of PSL 2017 edition, which is being held in UAE. Peshawar Zalmi will play against Quetta Gladiators today, February 28, at the Sharjah Stadium where the DRS will make its debut. The DRS is designed to eliminate howlers from on-field umpires and decide on close-calls.

What would be interesting to see is how the technology is implemented by the officials, as the DRS has been controversial from its inception. It needs to be seen whether a basic form is used to eliminate the howlers by using slow motions and snicko or go for the complicated ball tracking as well.

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There have been differences of opinion among the ICC members about the correctness of ball-tracking and Hotspot. There is no official word yet on whether these will be used in the qualifiers which start today, with Islamabad United slated to play Karachi Kings tomorrow in Qualifier 2 on March 1.

Qualifier 3 will be played in Dubai based on the results of the first two qualifiers, following which the final will be held on March 5 in Lahore. The use of DRS will be remarkable for PSL, considering the fact that it would be the first among the top leagues to introduce it.