The International Cricket Council announced two changes in rules of T20 cricket this morning. ICC is trying to pace the game as in last few years T20 matches are taking around 4 hours to finish which is too late for a T20 match to end.
The over rate regulations specify that a fielding side should be in a position that they can ball the first ball of the last over of the innings on scheduled or rescheduled time for the innings to end. The ICC stated:
“If they are not in such a position, one fewer fielder will be permitted outside of the 30-yard circle for the remaining over’s of the innings.” The change was recommended by the ICC Cricket Committee, which regularly discusses ways to improve the pace of play in all formats, after considering reports on the effectiveness of a similar regulation that was included in the playing conditions for the Hundred competition conducted by the ECB.
The second change is that, there will be an optional drink brake of 2 minutes and 30 seconds in the mid-way of each innings.
The first T20 men`s match after the changes will be played on January 16 between West Indies and Ireland at Sabina Park, Jamaica and the first T20 women`s match after the change will be played on January 18 between South Africa and West Indies at Centurion.
Related posts:
Four-day Test matches are the way forward, says Irfan Pathan
On this day, Rohit Sharma became the first cricketer to hit 5 hundreds in a single World Cup edition
Greg Barclay, New ICC Chairman, Says There’s No Big Three; Both Bilateral, ICC Events Important
Former Head Coach Ravi Shastri backs legalisation of sports betting in India