ICC bows to Captains' pressures, changes rules for World Cup

Port of Spain, Mar 16 (UNI) Bowing under pressure from the skippers, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today agreed to partially amend playing conditions for the ongoing World Cup, specfically with regard to interrupted matches.

According to the ICC, an amendment to the playing conditions was agreed to at the pre-tournament meeting between event officials, captains, coaches and managers of the 16 competing teams.

It was agreed that in the event of a toss but no play taking place on the first scheduled day of a match, the toss could take place again and the teams changed for the reserve day.

Explaining the decision on the re-toss on the reserve day of a rain-hit game, the ICC's cricket operations general manager, Dave Richardson said, ''Under the original playing conditions the result of the toss was carried over to the reserve day even if a ball was not bowled on day one but there was plenty of opinion against that in the meeting.'' ''Possible changes in overnight conditions could also necessiate the need for a team change for tactics or a player could fall ill overnight and this amendment to the playing conditions caters to all these eventualities,'' he said.

The decision in effect, nullifies the first toss in such a rain-affected game, and the ICC said it would apply to only this tournament (WC).

The matter of net run-rate throughout the tournament was also issued to all participating teams, clarifying that only the teams progressing to the Super Eights would be taken into account.

UNI