Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has suggested that the ICC use Spider-cams to show the television audience the outcome of the toss at World Cups. He believes that this would provide more clarity and transparency for fans and players alike. Hafeez explained that the coin often travels five to ten meters away from the captains when it is flipped, and that this can make it difficult to see which side it has landed on. He also noted that the match referee is the only person who currently sees the outcome of the toss, and that this can lead to doubts about fairness.
“I was the captain of the 2012 T20 World Cup,” Hafeez said on a talk show. “I had suggested the Tournament Director to avail the advantage of the Spider-Cam during the toss at the World Cup. The Spider-Cam should show the outcome when the coin landed for more clarity.”
Spider cam technology should be used to show toss result #CWC23 #GamOnHai pic.twitter.com/hnaBRr3jaK
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 25, 2023
“I am not casting aspersions on anyone’s credibility,” Mohammad Hafeez said. “I am not doubting anyone. But if you show the outcome, there will be more clarity for the fans, for the world. Now, only the match referee goes and picks up the coin. We have to take the referee’s words on whether it is head or tail.”
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Mohammad Hafeez’s suggestion comes at a time when the ICC is under increasing pressure to improve the transparency and fairness of its competitions. The recent controversy over the toss in the Pakistan vs. England match at the T20 World Cup has highlighted the need for more clarity and accountability.
It is worth noting that teams winning the toss have a significant advantage in ODI cricket. In 2023, teams winning the toss have a win-loss ratio of 0.923. Since the start of 2022, the number reads 1.05. In this decade, 1.07. In this millennium, 1.02. In ODI history, 1.01. While the toss sometimes gives an edge to teams, the advantage evens out over a large sample.
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However, the fact that teams winning the toss have a significant advantage is still a concern, and Mohammad Hafeez’s suggestion is one way to address this issue. By using Spider-cams to show the outcome of the toss, the ICC can increase transparency and fairness, and give fans and players more confidence in the process.
