Dubai, UAE (BBN)-The International Cricket Council (ICC) has effected major changes in the one-day international (ODI) format and most of the key decisions give bowlers a fighting chance.
THE KEY CHANGES ARE:
No compulsory catchers in overs 1-10 (ODIs)
No batting Powerplay between overs 15-40 (ODIs)
Five fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle in overs 41-50 (ODIs)
All “no balls”, not just “foot faults”, to result in a free hit (ODIs & T20Is)
These playing conditions will come into effect for series starting on or after 5 July 2015, stated an ICC release after the conclusion of the cricket governing body’s annual conference in Barbados late on Friday, reports the ESPNcricinfo.
ICC chief executive David Richardson said, “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.
“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.”
The conference in Barbados was held under the chairmanship of N Srinivasan.
The ICC Board also reviewed and adopted the recommendations of an Integrity Working Party which had been convened to review the global risks for international and domestic cricket created by the threat of corruption.
This decision will see a greater role for a central Anti-Corruption Unit and paves the way for greater coordination of preventative and investigative activity around the world with a unified vision to ‘keep cricket clean’.
BBN/SK/AD
