 International Cricket Council (ICC) executive board Wednesday rejected its chief executives’ committee’s (CEC) decision to make the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) mandatory for all Tests and ODIs.
The board approved the recommendations of the CEC relating to the inclusion of Hot Spot cameras as part of the minimum specifications for the DRS and the amendment of the LBW protocols regarding the “margin of uncertainty”, but felt using the system was better left to judgment of the two competing nations.
“ICC Board agreed to continue with the present arrangement where the two competing nations in a bilateral series decide on the use of DRS,” the ICC Board said at its meeting.
After receiving detailed match data and consumer research, the board agreed with the CEC that there should be continued and consistent emphasis placed on the promotion of the three formats of international cricket, particularly 50-over cricket.
“At the same time it was decided that, in conjunction with the changes in playing regulations, there should be further consideration of the branding of ODI cricket, while being cognisant of the high level of interest in 50-over cricket in many countries,” the ICC said.
When considering the appeal of the 50-over format, the board approved the recommended regulation changes, including that Powerplays be restricted to the first block of 10 overs and a batting Powerplay of five overs to be completed before the start of the 41st over.
The board also ruled that a maximum of four fielders to be allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the non-Powerplay overs and the number of permitted short pitched balls should increase from one per over to two. There was also no objection to the introduction of Day/Night Test cricket dependent on the agreement of both participating teams.
The ICC board also agreed to continue the fruitful informal discussions surrounding the ICC Independent Governance Review and the role of the ICC.
These informal discussions will continue and a further detailed debate will take place at the ICC’s next board meeting in October in Sri Lanka. They also continued the important debate on the protection and promotion of international cricket within a changed landscape that is showing a growing number of domestic professional T20 leagues.