A file photo of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
No catchers in the first 10 overs, no batting powerplay and five fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last ten overs are some of the changes made.
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.