Delayed calls provide opportunity for referral system to be manipulated: Broad

CENTURION - England bowler Stuart Broad has insisted that he did nothing wrong for questioning the umpires over South African skipper Graeme Smith’s delayed call for the controversial referral system.

Broad had an argument with the umpires on being given out lbw on a South Africa referral which came 34 seconds after umpire Aleem Dar had first ruled him not out.

The review call saw the lbw decision against him being overturned in favour of bowler J.P. Duminy.

“I did not see any signal from the South Africa management and as far as I’m aware nobody else in our dressing room did. I was merely saying to the umpires that the amount of time the whole process took was wrong and would provide an opportunity for the system to be manipulated,” The Sun quoted Broad, as saying.

“There was no suggestion that I was querying the decision. Replays showed that I was absolutely dead in front. It was just the time it took to get there,” he added.

England batsman Graeme Swann, who was batting with Broad at the time, also suggested that the Proteas might have been waiting for a signal from the dressing room, where they have TV monitors.

“The umpires said they hadn’t seen any signal from the dressing room and it was out. But a TV camera might have picked up something and there was ample opportunity. We are certainly not pointing the finger at South Africa, though and saying they did it,” The Sun quoted Swann, as saying.

“The correct decision was reached. But there are some irregularities to the review system which need sorting out quickly,” he added.

The regulations state the fielding side are allowed only a few seconds. (ANI)