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The ICC conducts an annual conference to discuss rules and regulations and decide the future course of cricket. The new reforms introduced by the ICC are instrumental in taking the game forward on the right path. The 2019 conference was held in London after the conclusion of the World Cup.
The committee was led by the ICC chairperson Shashank Manohar. With the end of the mega event, the new reforms introduced by the ICC will set the platform for the future tournaments and the next ICC World Cup, to be held in 2023.
Let's take a look at the three major takeaways from this year's press conference:
#1 Suspension of Zimbabwe Cricket
The ICC took the bold decision of suspending Zimbabwe cricket with immediate effect as the board has failed in conducting a free and fair election process and in ensuring that there is no government interference in the cricket administration.
The ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said, "We do not take the decision to suspend a member lightly, but we must keep our sport free from political interference."
Zimbabwe cricket had faced a similar suspension from Test cricket in 2005 after 15 players dropped out of the squad in protest against the sacking of their captain. The ban was revoked later in 2005, but Zimbabwe did not compete in any international Test match between 2006 and 2011.
Zimbabwe cricket had also faced tough times earlier when popular players like Andy Flower and Henry Olonga protested against the racist policies of the government.
The country has produced some great cricketers over the years and entertained cricket fans by providing unforgettable memories. But their current players have now been robbed of their daily livelihood and are understandably heartbroken. Many cricket personalities such as Ravichandran Ashwin have taken to Twitter to express their views on the matter.
Zimbabwe cricketer Sikandar Raza put out an emotional tweet stating how one decision could change the careers of many people.
ICC has suspended its funding to Zimbabwe cricket and banned the team from participating in any ICC event.
With a big question mark looming over the team's participation in the World T20 qualifiers later this year, Zimbabwe cricket could well be on its last legs.
#2 Introduction of concussion substitutes
ICC has introduced the use of concussion substitutes in all forms of the game from August 1, 2019. The substitutes can feature in place of players playing in the starting 11.
The substitute player can play only in place of a player of the same kind. The substitution can be made only for injured players by the team's medical representative and only after the approval from the match referee.
The introduction of concussion substitutes will provide interesting possibilities for the games ahead. The criterion for approval set by the match referees will be extremely crucial.
The Ashes Test between Australia and England at Edgbaston will be the first international match played after the introduction of this new rule.
A similar decision was taken by the ICC in 2011 when it outlawed the use of 'runners' for injured batsmen. There were a few instances of batsmen using a runner when they were not injured but felt tired.
Hopefully, the match referees would strictly ensure that there is no misuse of the new rule.
#3 Change in over-rate punishments
In the past, captains faced one-match bans for slow over-rates during their bowling innings. ICC has now decided to stop imposing bans on the captains; instead, there will be deductions in points during the ICC Test Championship.
The idea behind this new rule is to hold the entire team responsible for slow over-rates. The captain alone should not face the brunt of the punishment.
Earlier this year, West Indies captain Jason Holder was suspended for the final Test of the series against England for maintaining a slow over-rate even though the match was concluded in just 3 days. Shane Warne heavily criticized the rule and highlighted its absurdity.
During the Test Championship, the number of overs that a team falls behind by will be calculated and two points will be deducted per over. These point deductions might play a crucial role in the tournament.
Facing a ban for slow over-rate is a harsh call for an international captain. The ICC has made the right decision by reducing the severity of the punishment.
Now, a captain will not have over-rates at the back of his mind during a match and the team will not have the fear of losing their captain in the middle of the Test championship.
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