ICC Announces Changes To Playing Conditions Rules: Contentious Soft-Signal Scraped - All You Should Know

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced some big rule changes to its playing conditions in its Chief Executives' Committee meeting. Agreeing to the recommendations from Sourav Ganguly-led Men's Cricket Committee, the contentious 'soft-signal' decision by on-field umpires has been scrapped.

The Men's Cricket Committee recommendations were also endorsed by the Women's Cricket Committee. The main changes to the playing conditions will come into effect on 1 June 2023 with the Lord's Test between England and Ireland.

New Rule Changes by ICC

Soft signal Redundent: The on-field umpires will no longer be required to give a soft signal while referring decisions to the third umpires. The on-field umpires will now consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken.

According to ICC rules, a "soft signal is the visual communication by the bowler's end umpire to the third umpire (accompanied by additional information via two-way radio where necessary) of his/her initial on-field decision prior to initiating an Umpire Review."

Till now the on-field umpire would either signal 'out' or 'not out' based on their gut feeling. And the third umpire was compelled to go by 'soft signal' as most of the footage proved to be inconclusive.

Helmets Mandory for fielders: Helmet protection will be mandatory in international cricket for the following high-injury-risk positions: (i) when batters are facing fast bowlers, (ii) when wicketkeepers are standing up to the stumps, and (iii) when fielders are close to the batter in front of the wicket.

Runs off a Free Hit: Any runs scored off a Free Hit when the ball hits the stumps will count as runs scored, to be consistent with all other runs scored from a free hit.

During the T20 World Cup 2022 between India and Pakistan, India batters Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik run three runs in the 20th over after the ball hit stumps off a free-hit. The batting side was awarded the runs but they were counted in byes.

After the changes introduced by the ICC, Sourav Ganguly said, "Soft signals have been discussed at previous cricket committee meetings over the last couple of years. The committee deliberated this at length and concluded that soft signals were unnecessary and at times confusing since referrals of catches may seem inconclusive in replays."

"We also discussed player safety, which is very important for us. The committee decided that it was best to make the use of helmets mandatory in certain positions to ensure the safety of players."

Full List of Members in the ICC Cricket Committee

Sourav Ganguly (Chair); Mahela Jayawardena and Roger Harper (Past Players); Daniel Vettori and VVS Laxman (Representatives of Current Players); Gary Stead (Member Team Coach Representative); Jay Shah (Full Members' Representative); Joel Wilson (Umpires' Representative); Ranjan Madugalle (ICC Chief Referee); Jamie Cox (MCC Representative); Kyle Coetzer (Associate Representative); Shaun Pollock (Media Representative); Greg Barclay and Geoff Allardice (Ex Officio - ICC Chair and Chief Executive); Clive Hitchcock (Committee Secretary); David Kendix (Statistician).