ICC introduces new slow over-rate penalties to modulate game tempo

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a new system to modulate the pace of play. As per the new regulations, which are slated to become active from December 2023, all the teams in the ODI and T20I format will be given 60 seconds to start the new over. In the majority of cases, it has been observed that the bowling team often call for drinks and takes more time than required to set the field and hence, the game gets delayed.

To put an end to that, ICC has decided to give five penalty runs to the batting team if the bowling team fails to start the next over within 60 seconds at least three times. The decision was taken in the ICC Board Meeting in Ahmedabad after the ODI World Cup final. As per Cricbuzz, it is likely to come into effect on an experimental basis from December to April next year.

A stop clock will be used to regulate the time that the fielding team is taking and the umpires will eventually warn the captain every time there’s a breach. Other than this, the board members have also discussed on changes to the pitch and outfield monitoring regulations.

ICC introduces new gender eligibility criteria

The international board has also clarified that for protection, safety and fairness purposes, anyone who has undergone male puberty will not be eligible to participate in women’s cricket. The decision was approved after a nine-month consultation process with the stakeholders of the game. ICC Medical Advisory Committee chaired by Dr Peter Harcourt was leading the process.

“The new policy is based on the following principles (in order of priority), protection of the integrity of the women's game, safety, fairness and inclusion, and this means any Male to Female participants who have been through any form of male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women's game regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken,” ICC mentioned.