KOCHI, March 31: The playing conditions for the triangular cricket series starting here are more or less finalised but International Cricket Council match referee Peter Van der Merwe needs more clarity to certain factors like reduction in the number of overs and target scores.Merwe said he would set the rules right by evening or by tomorrow morning after discussions with the team managements. "We used to reduce the number of overs strictly according to the time lost but if at a particular venue the light allows an extra hour of match to be played, why don't we make provision for extra time," wondered the ICC referee.
Merwe said the target score formula, in the event of teams having to bat in unequal time due to rain, varied from country to country so there needs to be a simple method. "The Indian system seems very simple," he said.
On the subject of fine imposed on players for misbehaviour, Merwe said the ICC viewed it on a comparative scale, while doling out justice. "If Harbhajan Singh did it on thefield, we would have let it go for he is a newcomer. Whereas if a player who has toured many times misbehaves, it cannot be pardoned."
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
