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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken many major decisions in the board meeting held in Ahmedabad. The ICC Board has approved several important changes such as pink ball trials in Test matches in case play is affected due to bad light and allowing the head coach to go on the field and discuss with the players during the ‘drinks break’.

The ICC issued a statement saying, ‘With the prior consent of both the teams, the pink ball will be trialled in Test matches, so that maximum number of games can be played if there is a possibility of bad light.’ The match will start with the traditional red ball but if the light reduces then with the help of floodlights the pink ball can be used to complete those overs which will be affected due to low light.

What are the rules?

Under the current rules, 90 overs are bowled in a day. For example, if the lights go down after 75 overs have been played with the red ball and there are 15 overs left, then with the prior consent of both the teams, those overs can be completed with the pink ball in dim light. It will be interesting to see whether the Indian team accepts this arrangement or not. Indian players have earlier expressed their reluctance to play Test with pink ball in home conditions. The outcome of the match may change due to more seam movement from the pink ball.

The ICC Board has also approved research on new technologies to lighting systems in match officials and grounds to reduce loss of play due to poor lighting. The cost of this research and development project will be jointly borne by both ICC and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

These rules also changed

In a change in the rules, the ICC has allowed the head coach or his representatives to visit the field during the scheduled ‘drinks break’ and have strategic discussions with the players. The system of the coaching staff coming on the field during strategic time out is already in place in T20 cricket and now a similar facility will be available in Test cricket also. Apart from this, rules to mandatory interval of 15 minutes in T20 International matches and the readiness of batsmen when the game resumes have also been approved.

On-field umpires will now be given access to Hawk-Eye data for effective monitoring of illegal bowling actions (chucking). According to the new rule, ‘Umpires will be able to use Hawk-Eye data when considering reporting a bowler’s action.’ The ICC Board has also approved the permanent adoption of the test rule to leg side wide. All the new rules will come into effect from October 1, 2026.

Change in the window of Women’s Champions Trophy

The ICC Board has approved changes to the window of the Women’s Champions Trophy 2027. Now this tournament will be held between 14 to 28 February 2027 instead of June-July. Apart from this, ICC also approved the organization of Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026. Five full member countries and five associate member countries will participate in this 10-team tournament. The teams will be selected based on ranking and Women’s T20 World Cup qualification performance.

ICC’s hunter runs on this cricket board

At the two-day meeting, the ICC Board also decided to suspend Cricket Canada’s membership with immediate effect due to allegations of corruption and administrative irregularities, although Canada’s national teams will continue to be allowed to participate in ICC events. Apart from this, senior ICC officials have been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the elections of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).