Explained: Why were USA fined five-run penalty vs India in T20 World Cup 2024 match?
India defeated the USA by seven wickets.
The co-hosts of the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, the USA became the first team to be penalised according to the new stop-clock regulations put in place to speed up the pace of play in T20Is. It is worth noting that the penalty is imposed if the fielding side fails to start their next over within a minute of their previous over ending for a third time in an innings.
During the clash between the USA and India, the Men in Blue required 35 runs at the start of the 16th over to win the game. The side found itself in a perplexing situation, but the equation was brought down to India needing 30 runs in just as many deliveries due to the penalty.
According to the regulation, “The clock will be used to regulate the amount of time taken between overs. If the bowling team is not ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a five-run penalty will be imposed the third time it happens in an innings.”
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The rule has become a permanent feature in men's ODIs and T20Is since June 1, 2024, and it seems to have heavily cost the USA the game. Eventually, India won the game with 10 balls to spare, registering their third straight win of the campaign, with the USA registering their first loss of the tournament.
There's plenty to learn: USA head coach Stuart Law
Speaking of the penalty, the USA’s head coach, Stuart Law, took centre stage and revealed that the penalty was something that did not take them by surprise. He opined that speeding themselves up between the overs is something that they need to improve on.
“Yeah, we talk about this, we had a few warnings in earlier games, and it's something we do talk about to get through faster between the overs. It's just one thing that we can improve on. I think that we're only a fledgling team. There's plenty to learn,” Stuart Law said at the post-match press conference.
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“There's not just the cricket aspect of the game of cricket, but there's also the other intricacies that need to be embedded [among the players]. It's a rule that's only just come in. A lot of our players wouldn't have heard about it before we played in the Bangladesh series or the Canada series earlier this year. So, look, it's something that we need to address, we'll sit down and talk about, but we can improve it, yeah,” he added.
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