International cricket captains will no longer run the risk of being suspended for slow over-rates with the ICC deciding to instead dock points and fine the entire side for any such violations, starting with the upcoming World Test Championship.
The recommendations of the ICC Cricket Committee wereapproved by its board in order to curb the menace of slow over-rates. The worldTest championship, which runs from 2019 to 2021, gets underway with the Ashes,starting August 1.
“In World Test Championship matches a team that isbehind the required over rate at the end of a match will have two competitionpoints deducted for each over it is behind,” the ICC said in statementhere.
The big development is, however, abolition of suspension ofcaptains for slow over-rates.
“Captains will no longer be suspended for repeated orserious over rate breaches. All players should be held equally responsible forslow over rates, and as such will be fined at the same level as thecaptain,” it stated.
As per the previous rule, two instances of slow over-rate inone year would lead to a suspension on the side’s captain. The ICC also endorsed the Cricket Committeerecommendation that there should be further exploration of the use of replaysto call No balls, and trials will be conducted over the coming months.