'I just thought someone has to find a way to speak to the ICC about it' - Usman Khawaja discusses his involvement in amending slow over-rate rule

Usman Khawaja, a veteran Australian opener, has not only rescued his team with his batting heroics during the Ashes tour but also played a pivotal role in saving his teammates money in the form of fines and also earning valuable World Test Championship (WTC) points. Recently, Khawaja disclosed that he was instrumental in bringing about amendments to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) sanctions on slow over rates in Test cricket.

During ICC's yearly conference in Durban, the bigwigs in charge gave the nod to some changes in Test cricket's slow over-rate sanctions. They wanted to find a sweet spot where they could keep things moving along while also making sure players were treated fairly.

So, under the fresh set of rules, players will have to cough up 5% of their match fee for each over they don't quite manage to bowl in time, with a maximum punishment of 50%. But if a team gets all out before they reach 80 overs and the new ball is due, no penalty will be handed out, no matter how slow their over rate was. This new tweak throws out the old 60-overs benchmark they had before.

Usman Khawaja revealed that he approached Wasim Khan, ICC's general manager, to express his concerns about the existing rule that imposed a 20% match fee deduction for each over, bowling team fell short. Australia's players incurred substantial fines, with 80% of their match fee being deducted during the World Test Championship final, and they faced an additional 40% fine following the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

"I just thought someone has to find a way to speak to ICC about it. We had played three games, and they had been three really good games with results, providing entertainment, and we were getting fined 80% of our match fee. It's a lot of money," Expressing his frustration, Khawaja stated as quoted by Cricbuzz. 

Having a prior acquaintance with Wasim Khan, Khawaja reached out to him to discuss the matter. Other players, such as Pat Cummins also shared his concern with Khan. To Khawaja's delight, ICC took the players' feedback seriously and implemented changes within a short span of one to two weeks.

It's the conditions that make it hard for us: Khawaja

Meanwhile, speaking of the challenges both the teams are facing in the ongoing Ashes 2023 series, the Australian opener, Usman Khwaja, believes that the conditions under which the teams are playing at a venue determine the rate at which teams are bowling. So there was no deliberate attempt by teams to violate the over-rate laws. Citing India, which assists spinners on most occasions as the country falls under the Asian sub-continent, two spinners can operate and finish with the overs quickly in comparison to other European or Australian conditions.

"They came back to us, there was a bit of compromise. We are trying to go as fast as we can. It's the conditions that make it hard for us. If you are in India we are never behind the over-rate, two spinners going at it. We were getting results, that's what was frustrating. Think England were frustrated with it, too," explained Khawaja.

Lastly, Khawaja expressed his appreciation for ICC paying attention to players' concerns. He also mentioned that in a recent meeting with the apex cricket governing body, players were asked to give their feedback which included the agenda of over-rate issues.