The International Cricket Council made a big change in their rule book today that is expected to affect the game hugely. According to the newly introduced rule, maintaining slow over rate in a match will now result in one fielder less to be allowed to outside the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs. Earlier the penalty was just restricted to a monetary deduction in the Captain’s match salary.
The above mentioned correction has been made to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. Another change that the International Cricket Council announced today was the introduction of optional mid-innings drinks for both teams in between a match. The length of the drinks break will be two and a half minutes.
“The over rate regulations are captured in clause 13.8 of the playing conditions , which stipulate that a fielding side must be in position to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled or rescheduled time for the end of the innings,” 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 overs of the innings.”
This rule was first introduced in ‘the Hundred’ which was conducted for the first time last year by ECB and ICC applied it in the T20 format in general as it thinks it to be the best solution to maintain the fluidity of the matches.