NEW DELHI, Jan 31: Former India captain and ICC Cricket Committee Chairman, Sunil Gavaskar says the move to strip on-field umpires to terminate matches and offer match referees that right is in the larger interest of the game.

The ICC Chief Executive Committee met in Dubai to determine that right to match referees, recommending the ammendment following the infamous forfeited Oval Test between Pakistan and England last August.

"We have recommended that the right to award a match should go to the match referee instead of the on-field umpire because a match referee will be able to look at the situation away from the heat of the middle," Gavaskar said.

"By referring the decision to the match referee it will allow a little more time for the situation to come back to normal," he added.

The move, he says, will also reduce the rising tension among spectators while watching the game and lessen the chances of forfeitures, following a series of untoward instances of late.

"In the larger interest of the game this change will benefit the crowds. It would be better than being denied seeing any more action from the match," the Gulf News quoted him as saying.

The International Cricket Council board will meet in South Africa in March to consider the amendment to be passed as a law.

Gavaskar stressed for an education programme for cricketers to increase awareness about performance enhancers, and urged countries to carry out frequent internal dope tests.

"The list of banned drugs should be refreshed and conveyed to the respective Boards. Countries should have an education programme and ICC would help them with the education programme.

"All countries should conduct the tests. If they can do it then there will be less chance of players slipping through and embarrassing the whole cricketing world at a major event," the former India opener said. —Agencies