ICC announces a raft of changes following their latest round of meetings in Dubai
A Super Over may be used in one-day international cricket for the very first time after the International Cricket Council(ICC) announced the method will be implemented in the case of a tie in the semi-finals and final of the Champions Trophy this year.The ICC has announced a raft of changes that will be implemented following their latest round of meetings in Dubai, while cricket’s major figures have also revealed details of some in-principle agreements that could make significant changes to the structure of international cricket.
A Super Over has been available in the case of a tie in previous ICC finals, but never before for other knockout matches.
In previous ICC events, the event of a tie in a quarter- or semi-final meant the side that finished in the higher position during the group stage of the tournament would progress to the next round.
This was famously the case when the 1999 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston finished in a tie, with the Aussies advancing to the final having finished ahead of the Proteas in the Super Six stage of the tournament
The tie-breaker method is commonly used in Twenty20 matches when scores are level at the end of the match, but it has never before been implemented in a 50-over international.
The ICC also announced a Super Over would be available in the semi-finals and final of the 2017 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in the UK after the Champions Trophy.
It was also confirmed that the Decision Review System (DRS) will be available for all televised matches during the Women’s World Cup, as well – for the first time – both men’s and women’s World T20 tournaments going forward.
They also agreed to a consistent use of DRS in all international cricket matches.
A system of demerit points for poorly-rated pitches and grounds will be introduced, similar to the points system used for players when they breach the ICC’s Code of Conduct. A venue will be suspended for a period of 12 months if it accumulates five demerit points, while 10 points will lead to ban of two years.
And it was confirmed that the final of the 2020 Women’s World T20 to be held in Australia will be played on March 8 (International Women’s Day).
Cricket Australia chairman David Peever said the meetings had been very successful.
“Cricket Australia is very pleased to see the progress made by the Chief Executives’ Committee on the structure of the game, with its latest proposals around new Test and ODI leagues, and I am confident that these will be welcomed by the ICC Board when they are presented in more detail at the April meeting,” Peever said in a statement.
“We are also pleased to see their agreement around the use of DRS technology in all international cricket, and the creation of a medical advisory committee, which will provide an opportunity for the sport to consider such issues as player concussion and heat policies.
“And we are delighted to see that the women’s World T20 final, in Australia in 2020, will be held on International Women’s Day, March 8. Given that this will be a Sunday that year, we are sure it will be one of the great events on the sporting calendar.”
Other outcomes from the ICC meeting
• Security experts from all ICC members to be sent to Pakistan to view latest situation, paving way for potential for international cricket to return to the subcontinent nation
• Afghanistan’s domestic competitions to be awarded first-class and List A status
• ICC anti-corruption unit to investigate introduction of mobile phone data extraction equipment
• An ICC Medical Advisory Committee to be created to advise on sports medicine and sports science issues
• A revised financial distribution model ensuring a more equitable distribution of revenues accepted ‘in principle’ and to be considered further in April
• Constitutional changes to allow Ireland and Afghanistan to become Full Members (and therefore play Test cricket) also accepted ‘in principle’ and to be considered again in April
• The constitutional changes would also see an equal weight of votes for all ICC Board members
