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Cricket's Pace Picks Up with New Playing Rules
1 Oct
Summary
- New ICC playing conditions aim to speed up cricket matches.
- Batters may receive penalty runs for delaying the game.
- Pink balls could be trialed for daytime Test matches.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced significant changes to its Playing Conditions across all formats, effective October 1, 2026. These updates target improvements in the pace of the game and clarity in fielding regulations.
A key amendment involves penalizing batters for time-wasting. After initial warnings, a third offense will result in five penalty runs for the fielding side, with further Code of Conduct measures possible for persistent delays.
In Test cricket, a trial will allow the use of pink balls during daytime matches, provided both teams agree beforehand. This measure aims to mitigate play interruptions caused by bad light, with the decision to use a pink ball being binding for the entire match once agreed upon.
