The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled a new initiative to expedite the pace of the game by implementing an electronic stop clock, penalizing instances of time wastage by the fielding side. The revised Men’s playing conditions will see this trial introduced in Full Member Men’s ODIs and T20Is from December 2023 to April 2024, covering approximately 59 international fixtures. The updated regulations will take effect during the first T20I between West Indies and England on December 12, 2023.
Under clause 41.9 of the amended Men’s ODI and T20I playing conditions, a stop clock, counting down from 60 to zero, will be displayed at the ground. The fielding side is required to commence a new over within 60 seconds of the previous one’s conclusion. Failure to do so will result in two warnings and, eventually, a five-run penalty.
Exceptions to the rule include instances where a new batter enters the wicket, an official drinks interval is called, the umpires approve on-field treatment for an injury, or time is lost due to circumstances beyond the fielding side’s control.
The third umpire holds the responsibility to initiate the clock, either after the last ball of the previous over is called dead or the completion of any umpire or player review from the final ball of the preceding over.
Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, mentioned that the trial’s results would be evaluated at the trial period’s conclusion.
While the ICC’s efforts to expedite the game are commendable, experts argue that penalizing fielding sides may not address the root causes of slow play, such as lengthy deliberations by batsmen or extended TV timeouts.
