Stop Clock In ODI & T20I - What Does New ICC Rule Mean And When Will It Be Introduced?

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Teams have struggled to complete their quota of overs in the white-ball format in most of the matches, leading to the innings or games itself finishing after the cut off times.

Despite introduction of fines, fielding restrictions and bans for repeated slow overrate offences, the match officials have struggled to complete several ODI and T20I on-time. The ICC has penalised the fielding team by only fining the captain and also restricting fielders outside the ring.

Earlier, for each over the fielding team fell short by at the scheduled cessation time of the innings, after taking time allowances into play, they were forced to have an additional fielder inside the ring.

For example, if a team completes only 48 overs when their stipulated time runs out, the last two overs must be bowled with just four fielders outside the ring instead of the five. While this penalty still remains, ICC has introduce a new rule to ensure matches end on-time.

The International Cricket Council has agreed to implement a trial "stop clock" in men's ODI and T20I cricket to reduce the time or avoid falling into the overrate penalty.

What is the stop clock rule?

The introduction of a stop clock aims to regulate the time taken between overs. This move comes as part of a broader effort to improve the pace of the game and enhance the spectator experience.

A five-run penalty will be imposed the third time a bowling team fails to be ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds of completing the previous one.

When will the stop clock be implemented?

The trial stop clock will be implemented in One Day Internationals and T20 International matches, starting from next month - December 2023 to April 2024.

What other changes have the ICC made?

Folllowing criticism for pitches lately, ICC has made changes to the pitch and outfield monitoring regulations. These changes include a simplification of the criteria for pitch assessment and an increase in the threshold for when a venue might lose its international status, from five to six demerit points over a five-year period.

In another important decision, ICC has banned transgenders from competing in women's international cricket, meaning male-to-female participants who have undergone male puberty will not be eligible to compete in the international women's game, irrespective of any surgical or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken.