ICC not involved in WICB/BCCI affairs...as board amends ODI playing conditions

ICC not involved in WICB/BCCI affairs

...as board amends ODI playing conditions
Vinode Mamchan
Published: Guardian
Saturday, June 27, 2015

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference concluded in Barbados yesterday with the ICC, IDI and IBC Board meetings and at the end of it there was no announcement as to future dealings between West Indies and India.

ICC chief executive David Richardson said when asked what was the current position with West Indies and India: “We are not involved in the matter, it is between the West Indies Cricket Board and the BCCI. We are leaving them to deal with the situation of bi-lateral arrangements.”

T&T Guardian reported exclusively yesterday that no decision was made as to whether the two bodies would resume bi-lateral relations. The problem came about when the West Indies cricket team pulled out of their tour of India last October due to a payment structure dispute with the WICB. The BCCI has since suspended all bi-lateral tours and has asked for US$41.97M in compensation.

Meanwhile, the biggest news coming out of the conference was the change in playing conditions for ODI cricket, which will now see the bowlers benefitting.

The ICC Board noted amendments to the ICC playing conditions, which were approved by the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee on Monday and Tuesday. These playing conditions will come into effect for series starting on or after July 5, 2015.

The key changes made were, one, no compulsory catchers in overs 1-10 (ODIs); two, no batting Powerplay between overs 15-40 (ODIs); three, five fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle in overs 41-50 (ODIs); and four, all “no balls”, not just “foot faults”, to result in a free hit (ODIs & T20Is).

Richardson said: “We have thoroughly reviewed the ODI format after a very successful ICC Cricket World Cup. There was no need to make any radical changes to what has proved to be a vibrant and popular format but we wanted to take this opportunity to make the format simpler and easier to follow for the public as well as maintaining a balance between bat and ball.

“In making these adjustments, we have tried to ensure that ODI cricket retains the attacking, aggressive and thrilling brand, which has recently become the hallmark of 50-over cricket and sets us on a positive path to the next World Cup in England in 2019.”