ICC introduces in-match penalty

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jan 7, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

Digital Desk: An in-match penalty for slow over rates in men's and women's Twenty20 Internationals comes into effect this month, with the updated playing conditions also providing for an optional drinks interval midway through the innings in bilateral T20 international cricket.

The World governing body of cricket, the International Cricket Council on Friday announced a massive update in the gameplay of T20 Internationals.

Earlier, on Friday the council announced that a slow going over rate in any of the T20 international matches will welcome an ‘ in match penalty’ for the fielding side and will result in a less fielder outside the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs of the innings.

According to the ICC, the fielding side must abide by the over rate regulation mentioned in clause 13.8 of the playing conditions, which mentions that the fielding side must complete its innings within the bound time or within the rescheduled time for the end of the innings.

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To cool down the players midway, the governing body also introduced optional drinks break midway through the innings.

The in-match penalties are in addition to the sanctions for slow over-rate outlined in Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

The updated playing conditions for T20 matches were forwarded by the ICC Cricket Committee after discussing ways and measures to improve the pace of the game.

The In match penalty for slow over rates is inspired by the playing condition introduced by the ECB  ( England and Wales Cricket Board ) in a’ Hundred competition’ and following its effectiveness during the gameplay.

The first men's match to be played under the new playing conditions will be the one-off tie between the West Indies and Ireland at the Sabina Park in Jamaica on January 16.

The first T20I of the three-match series between South Africa and the West Indies in Centurion on January 18 will be the first women's match played under the new playing conditions.