Rules are Rules: Stop Clock Given a Go

 

‘Stop clock’ to become permanent in ODIs, T20I fixtures.
PTG Editor.
Saturday, 16 March 2024.
PTG 4462-21636.

A 'stop-clock' to regulate time taken between overs will become permanent in all white-ball games between International Cricket Council (ICC) Full members starting with the men’s Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United states in June.  That move follows the trial conducted over the last three months that found around 20 minutes were saved in One Day Internationals (ODI) when the ‘clock’ was in operation, with fielding teams faced with a five-run penalty if they failed three times to start a new over within 60 seconds of the last one ending (PTG 4369-21259, 12 December 2023).  

Under the ‘stop clock’ Playing Condition, the ‘clock' can be cancelled after it is started if a new batter is coming to the crease between overs following a dismissal, if an official drinks interval is called, the umpires have approved on-field treatment of a batter or fielder, and if time is lost for any circumstance beyond the control of the fielding side.  During the trial period, no team was found to have exceeded the one-minute limit between overs three times in an innings, and so the five-run penalty has not yet been imposed in practice for such an offence.  

In addition to the stop clock, there are two other penalties that can be imposed in regards to over-rates in limited-overs cricket - a fielding penalty, which has applied for the last two years (PTG 4003-19678, 20 September 2022), and monetary fines.  The monetary fine includes a five percent cut in the match fee players in a team earn for every over they are short of the minimum required over rate, after the umpires have taken into account allowances for unavoidable delays. The fine for the captain is double that of his team-mates, but the fines are capped at 50 percent of the match fee.

The permanent ‘stop clock’ decision was made during a meeting of the ICC’s board’s three-day meeting in Dubai this week which also confirmed that the semi-finals and final of the year’s men's T20 World Cup will have reserve days.  In addition, matches in the group and super eight stages of that tournament will require a minimum of five overs per side to constitute a game, but that will increase to a minimum of 10 overs per side for the semi-finals and final.

The ICC said both its Board and the Chief Executives’ Committee both had ":extensive discussions" on the future structure of the game, considering issues such as greater context for international white ball matches, the feasibility of scheduling windows as well as the principles of the commercial arrangements underpinning the Future Tours Program (PTG 4460-21632, 14 March 2024).  ICC Chair Greg Barclay said:  “Whilst there are no easy answers, there is a commitment to exploring how context can be delivered and further options will be considered at upcoming meetings”.

Meanwhile, Heath Mills, the executive chair of the world players’ union, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association as well as chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association, said the game's international schedule has become "a mess" with windows for T20 franchise leagues "desperately required”, and the arrangements that apply to the “confusing” World Test Championship and its "messy schedule" needing addressing.

Captain argues after five-run penalty is applied.
PTG Editor.
Friday, 15 March 2024.
PTG 4462-21638.

Multan franchise side captain Mohammad Rizwan had a long, and according to some reports, it would appear argumentative discussion, with umpire Aleem Dar after his side was penalised five runs for illegal fielding in Thursday’s first final of the Pakistan Super league in Karachi.  It came after Peshawar batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore played a ball from Khushdil Shah towards deep fine leg and Rizwan, who was keeping wickets, flicked off one of his gloves and ran into the outfield to collect the ball as the batters ran two.  

However, when Rizwan threw it back towards the wicket he had been standing at, the ball struck one of his gloves on the way, and when it became ‘Dead’ a five run penalty was signalled to the scorers.  Whether Rizwan didn’t know what the Law says about such circumstances and Dar had to explain it to him or not is not known. As yet there has been no indication from the Pakistan Cricket Board that the captain has been charged with any disciplinary offence regarding the matter.

Changes to regulations 2024