In a bid to enhance the pace of the game and improve the spectator experience, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to implement a new rule regulating the time taken between overs in men’s One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is). According to the fresh rule, bowling teams will face a five-run penalty if they fail to be ready for the next over within 60 seconds of completing the previous one. This move will be on a trial basis from December 2023 to April 2024.
The ICC emphasized that the introduction of the stop-clock mechanism for match officials aims to expedite the game without compromising fairness. Last year, slow over rates in ODIs and T20Is led to the introduction of in-match penalties, where the fielding team loses one fielder from outside the 30-yard circle if they fail to start the final over within the stipulated time.
Moreover, the ICC approved changes to pitch and outfield monitoring regulations, simplifying the assessment criteria for pitches and increasing the threshold for a venue to lose its international status from five to six demerit points over a five-year period.
In another significant development, the men’s Under-19 World Cup, originally slated to be held in Sri Lanka, has been shifted to South Africa. This move comes following the provisional suspension of the cricket body in Sri Lanka due to government interference.
Additionally, the ICC introduced new gender eligibility regulations for women’s cricket, stating that individuals who have undergone male puberty, regardless of any surgical or gender reassignment treatment, will not be eligible to compete in international women’s games. These regulations will be revisited in two years at the international level, while domestic regulations remain under the jurisdiction of individual member boards.
