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ICC Unveils Major Rule Changes Across All Cricket Formats
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Moneycontrol•01-10-2026, 20:17
ICC Unveils Major Rule Changes Across All Cricket Formats
- •The ICC has introduced new Playing Conditions covering time-wasting, cricket ball specifications, and fielding rules, effective October 1.
- •New penalties for time-wasting by batters include warnings, final warnings, and five penalty runs for repeated offenses.
- •Tighter tolerance for women's and junior cricket ball sizes and weights has been introduced, creating distinct specifications.
- •Ambiguity regarding overthrows has been removed, clarifying that only attempts to direct the ball at stumps count.
- •Test cricket changes include the trial use of pink balls in daytime Tests by mutual agreement and allowing play to continue after a wicket in the last over of the day if conditions permit.
- •ODI and T20I specific changes include a fixed 15-minute innings interval for T20Is, coaches allowed on the field during drinks breaks, and the permanent addition of the new wide ball rule.
Key Questions Answered
Under the updated ICC playing conditions, if a batter is not ready to face the ball within the prescribed time, they will receive a warning for the first offense and a final warning for the second. For the third and each subsequent offense, five penalty runs will be awarded to the fielding side, and Code of Conduct provisions may also be invoked.
As a trial to reduce the loss of play due to bad light, pink balls may be used in daytime Tests by mutual agreement between teams. The decision must be made before the match starts and cannot be changed once play has commenced.
The revised ODI and T20I playing conditions are aligned to allow the head coach or their designate to enter the field of play during scheduled drinks intervals.
