ICC brings in big changes in T20I Playing Conditions: Find new rules on slow-over rate, drinks break etc

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
over
rate
regulations
are
captured
in
clause
13.8
of
the
playing
conditions,
which
stipulate
that
a
fielding
side
must
be
in
a
position
to
bowl
the
first
ball
of
the
final
over
of
the
innings
by
the
scheduled
or
rescheduled
time
for
the
end
of
the
innings.

If
they
are
not
in
such
a
position,
one
fewer
fielder
will
be
permitted
outside
of
the
30-
yard
circle
for
the
remaining
overs
of
the
innings.

The
change
was
recommended
by
the
ICC
Cricket
Committee,
which
regularly
discusses
ways
to
improve
the
pace
of
play
in
all
formats.
It
was
taken
after
considering
reports
on
the
effectiveness
of
a
similar
regulation
that
was
included
in
the
playing
conditions
for
the
Hundred
competition
conducted
by
the
ECB.

The
in-match
penalties
are
in
addition
to
the
sanctions
for
the
slow
over-rate
outlined
in
Article
2.22
of
the
ICC
Code
of
Conduct
for
Players
and
Player
Support
Personnel.
In
another
change,
an
optional
drinks
break
of
two
minutes
and
thirty
seconds
may
be
taken
at
the
mid-point
of
each
innings
subject
to
agreement
between
Members
at
the
start
of
each
series.

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