New rules announced by ICC for playing during Covid-19
International cricket is due to take its first breath since the emergence of corona virus. The series between West Indies and England is due to start shortly as both the teams have started training with West Indies entire team present in UK. International Cricket Council (ICC) has put up a new variety of rules for managing the game effectively during covid-19.
The changes to game are brought by the Chief Executive Committee (CEC) of ICC. The adjustments brought to the game are for a certain duration as cricket can be continued within the global pandemic. New set of rules which are brought to the game are substitutes, home umpires, five penalty runs and enhancement of reviews.
First innovation is that umpires will be allowed to grant five penalty runs to the batting team if the bowling team uses saliva on the ball. Five penalty runs will be given only if and when two warnings are given but still bowling unit uses saliva on the ball. As per the advice of ICC’s medical expert, Dr. Harcourt, use of sweat is much safer to shine the ball than saliva. ICC has also instructed umpires to be a bit lenient in initial days as players will get used to new conditions. If saliva is being applied on the ball, umpires will issue a warning to the bowling team’s captain and clean the bowl before it is being used again.
Secondly, team will be allowed to replace players during a test match. If any of the players show signs of virus, the same can be changed with a substitute player among the squad. This rule is applicable only in Test cricket. Match referee will approve the replacement of player which shall be like-for-like replacement as done in the concussion cases. The committee may take this decision back as Dr. Harcourt said that the suspected player can be tested within half an hour. But then that would mean that match has to suspended and all the players and officials would have to go in quarantine.
Furthermore, home umpires and three reviews will be used in test cricket, whereas, two in limited overs formats. All three umpires and other match officials will be from home country and this will be done for the first time since 2002. Best efforts will be made by all cricket boards to employ local umpires and officials from the ICC’s Elite and International Panel. As less experienced officials will be involved in international matches so there is a high chance of errors, therefore, an additional review has been added in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Lastly, if there are any code of conduct issues, the hearings will be conducted by a neutral approved match official of ICC through a video link. It brings more interesting elements in the game as Chris Broad might be officiating a match involving his son Stuart Broad against Pakistan and West Indies in a home series.
