DUBAI, Aug 30: Calls have been made for the power to decide on the forfeiture of Test matches to be taken away from umpires and instead given to match referee. Many feel ball-tampering furore in The Oval Test may have had a different outcome had referee Mike Procter, not umpire Darrell Hair, made the decision.

Sri Lanka Cricket publicly announced it was in favour of a rule change. Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa said: “The ICC should discuss if some decisions would be better left to referees.”

He insisted his view was not just shared by a few but would be welcomed across the board by Test nations. “This should be settled quickly for good of the game.”

He said “there will be no split between Asia and other Test countries on this, I am confident that a settlement will be reached.”

There would be no need for a change in laws, merely a change in regulations for international cricket stating that, when in situ, a match referee should assume final responsibility.—Agencies