Pink ball in day Tests, penalties for time-wasting: ICC announces new rules
The International Cricket Council has introduced new playing conditions, including penalties for time-wasting by batters and standardized ball specifications for women's cricket. These updates also allow for the use of pink balls in daytime Test matches to improve visibility.
Why it matters
These rule changes aim to modernize the sport, improve game flow, and ensure greater equity and standardization across men's and women's international cricket.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday introduced several changes to the playing conditions in men's and women's cricket, including penalties for batters who waste time, tighter specifications for balls used in women's cricket, the option of pink balls in daytime Test matches and a rule change for the final over of a day's play.The changes will apply to all international series beginning on October 1 or later, while series that are already underway will continue under the existing regulations.The updated Playing Conditions for men and women across all formats incorporate changes to the MCC Laws of Cricket that come into effect on Thursday.The changes have been introduced to "address time-wasting, standardise ball specifications and clarify certain aspects of fielding."Batters to face penalties for wasting timeThe playing condition for time-wasting by batters has been revised in men's cricket.If a batter is not ready to face the next delivery within the…
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