The ICC Cricket Committee has proposed relaxation of the current system of umpire and match referee allotments foreseeing difficulty in travelling of officials for the initial round of games post the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Anil Kumble-led cricket committee had a conference call meeting to address important issues related to the game amid the lockdown and recommended using non-neutral umpires on a short-term basis. 

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"Given the challenges of international travel with borders being closed, limited commercial flights and mandatory quarantine periods, the Committee recommended that local match officials be appointed in the short-term," the ICC media release stated. 

The current regulation was imposed in 2002, since when the appointed officials could not be from the participating countries. 

"The appointments will (however) continue to be made via the ICC from local Elite and International Panel referees and umpires. Where there are no Elite Panel match officials in the country, the best local International Panel match officials will be appointed," the release stated. 

Following this recommendation is a proposal to also allow extra DRS referral for teams per format on an interim basis to assist the local umpires and ensure the continuation of quality standards of decision-making. 

"We are living through extraordinary times and the recommendations the Committee have made today are interim measures to enable us to safely resume cricket in a way that preserves the essence of our game whilst protecting everyone involved," Kumble, the former India captain and spin legend, was quoted as saying. 

The recommendations of the cricket committee will now be presented to the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee in early June for approval. 

(Inputs from ICC)