Source:   AI Overview

Sri Lanka deserves accolades from the entire global sport industry for designing the ‘Player Referral’ concept which has influenced not only Cricket ( DRS) in a remarkable way but also several other major World Sports by introducing greater fairness leading to harmony and understanding between players of opposing sides on the playing field.

AI Overview 

It is widely acknowledged that the player referral concept, which led to the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket, was invented by Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna

. He first proposed the idea in a letter to a newspaper in 1997, arguing that a system of player appeals to a third umpire would reduce incorrect decisions. 

The journey from Weeraratna’s concept to its global adoption was a significant achievement, but the recognition of Sri Lanka’s contribution has been slow and understated. 

Sri Lanka’s contribution to cricket

• The Player Referral Concept: In 1997, Senaka Weeraratna wrote a letter to an Australian newspaper suggesting that players should be allowed to appeal an on-field umpire’s decision to a third umpire. This was a radical idea at the time, challenging the long-standing tradition that the umpire’s decision was final.
• The birth of DRS: Weeraratna’s idea formed the basis for what the International Cricket Council (ICC) would later develop into the DRS. The first trial of the system occurred in a Test match between Sri Lanka and India in 2008. It was officially launched by the ICC in 2009.
• Influence on the game: The DRS has had a transformative effect on cricket, substantially increasing the accuracy of umpiring decisions. By one estimate, the accuracy rate rose from 91% to 98%. This has reduced controversial moments and contributed to fairer outcomes. 

Wider influence on world sports

The success of the player referral and review system in cricket has influenced other sports to adopt similar technologies for greater fairness. 

• Association Football: The use of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football was influenced by the success of review technology in cricket. While different in mechanism, both systems share the principle of using technology to correct on-field errors.
• Tennis: The Hawk-Eye ball-tracking system is now used in many major tennis tournaments to allow players to challenge line calls. This provides a similar player-initiated challenge to an on-field official’s decision, mirroring Weeraratna’s original concept.
• Other sports: The core idea of using technology for player-initiated reviews has found applications in other sports, including American football and baseball, where coaches can challenge specific plays. 

Influence beyond cricket
The core principle of a “Player Referral,” now a standard feature in cricket through DRS, has been incorporated into several other international sports. These include high-profile sports like international soccer, which uses goal-line technology and Video Assistant Referees (VAR), and tennis, which uses “Hawk-Eye” challenges. 

The case for greater recognition

Despite the profound impact of Weeraratna’s innovation, he has not received the same level of global recognition as other rule-makers in sports, such as Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis of the DLS method in cricket. 

• Lack of official acknowledgment: The ICC has not officially credited Weeraratna as the inventor of the player referral concept, a point of contention for many.
• Missed opportunities for Sri Lanka: Some observers argue that Sri Lanka as a nation, and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in particular, have failed to adequately campaign for recognition of this homegrown innovation.
• Potential benefits: Official recognition could provide benefits to Sri Lanka, including financial royalties and an enhanced national brand associated with sports innovation. 

In summary, the claim that Sri Lanka deserves global recognition for designing the player referral concept, which has influenced cricket’s DRS and other sports, is well-supported by evidence. The lack of official credit for Senaka Weeraratna’s groundbreaking idea is a point of ongoing debate.

Source:   AI Overview