I / Montego Bay (Jamaica) March 9, 2007The only technological evolution adopted by the International Cricket Council in this World Cup is to connect the officiating umpires to the stump microphone from the Super Group of 8 stage onwards.ICC General Manager (Cricket Operations) Dave Richardson today said the technology, which was first tried in the 2004 Champions Trophy, would help umpires' decision-making in the noisy matches."It will help the umpires to hear the faintest of snicks even when the stands are full and noise is being generated," he said.Richardson also outlined the doping policy for the teams but denied that the ICC had prepared any "list of targeted players" to be subjected to test in the present World Cup."We are serious about drug-testing and have been trying to get everyone follow the norms which are ICC compliant."No player has tested positive in dope tests in ICC events yet and I hope this World Cup will see a similar trend."Shane Warne was pulled out of the last World Cup because of dope-testing measures adopted by the Australian Board itself and same was the case with Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan during the last year's Champions Trophy.Richardson said there was no need for dope tests to be sent to any laboratory outside the Caribbean."You must remember that Jamaica produces world class athletes so it is adept at handling the dope tests here itself."
