In what will come as a relief to bowlers, ICC has decided to get rid of catchers in the first ten overs, removed the batting Powerplay and also allowed five fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last ten overs of an innings in one-dayers.
The ICC also said that all “no balls” and not just over-stepping by the bowlers will result in a free hit in both ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals. The rule changes will come into effect for series starting on or after July 5.
The ICC board during its Annual Conference here adopted these recommendations. These were made by the ICC’s cricket committee headed by the former India captain Anil Kumble in Mumbai this May.
“We have thoroughly reviewed the ODI format after a very successful ICC Cricket World Cup. There was no need to make any radical changes to what has proved to be a vibrant and popular format but we wanted to take this opportunity to make the format simpler and easier to follow for the public as well as maintaining a balance between bat and ball,” ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said.
“In making these adjustments, we have tried to ensure that ODI cricket retains the attacking, aggressive and thrilling brand, which has recently become the hallmark of 50-over cricket and sets us on a positive path to the next World Cup in England in 2019.”
Meanwhile, the ICC Board has also unanimously decided to suspend the membership of the USA Cricket Association (USACA) with immediate effect.
The decision was made after careful consideration of the findings set out in a recently constituted Review Group report to the ICC Board on the Status and Activities of USACA — a comprehensive document based on input from over 100 stakeholders, including USACA.
The Review Group had expressed “significant concerns about the governance, finance, reputation and cricketing activities of USACA” and the ICC decided to exercise its power under Article 2.7 of the ICC’s Articles of Association.
“The ICC Board has made this difficult decision after careful consideration and in the best interest of the game and all cricketers in the USA. The country has tremendous potential but because of governance, financial and cricketing challenges, the opportunity to grow the game is not being properly nurtured,” ICC chairman N Srinivasan said.
The suspension means that USACA will not be entitled to receive any ICC funding nor will it be entitled to determine whether cricket matches and events staged in the US should have the status of approved or disapproved cricket.
However, the ICC Board, in its absolute discretion and considering that the players should not suffer due to this suspension, has confirmed it will allow the USA cricket team to participate in next month’s ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 in Ireland and Scotland.
The USA U-19 team will also be permitted to play in the upcoming Americas U19 Championship in Bermuda.
