Former India opener turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has stated that the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) new penalty for slow over-rates in the T20Is is a ‘fantastic’ rule.
As per the new ICC rules, the bowling side can keep an extra fielder within the 30-yard circle for every over they bowl after the allotted time of a T20I inning. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra shared his views on that. He said:
“The ICC has said that the slow over-rate will be seriously penalized. In my opinion, there cannot be a more dangerous penalty than this. All other penalties are useless, whether you ban the captain or in the IPL you fine the team – financial fines, the match fee is cut – there is no value of that.”
He continued:
“The value is only of this thing – that you make a mistake and you had to pay for it at that moment itself. People will run quickly now and will try to finish the overs on time. In my opinion, it is a fantastic rule.”
However, the first men’s T20I to have this new rule will be the West Indies versus Ireland match on January 16. While saying that a “runs penalty” can be an option, Aakash Chopra added:
“Another option was to have a runs penalty in the overs you bowl after the stipulated time. You double the run rate and give that penalty, that is also an option but I feel this is a very good way.”
He further shared:
“Bring this rule in the IPL as well. The teams take four overs at times to finish a match. Why? That’s just not fair. If you start the match at 7:30, it finishes at 11:30. Earlier it used to start at 8:00, which means it became 12:00. It is everyone’s loss.”
Toss has become lopsided in T20Is – Aakash Chopra
He also opened up on the toss of the shortest format as he believes T20 games have become lopsided, as the team batting second usually win games.
“Toss has become lopsided. You come to know at the toss itself, who will win the T20 match. Nine of ten times the team chasing wins because the ball gets wet later. Even if the ball doesn’t get too wet, the chase still becomes easier because the ball comes onto the bat better if there is slight moisture on the pitch,” Aakash Chopra said.
He continued:
“The team bowling second can have a Super-Sub. It means, the team that wins the toss and bowls first will play with 11 players and the team batting first gets an extra player – it is your choice if you want to take an extra batter or bowler.”
However, this rule has been used in ODI cricket earlier too as both sides could name a 12th player before the toss at that time as well.
Aakash Chopra also revealed a suggestion given in an article in the Wisden. He stated:
“The two captains don’t do a toss. There is a chit in the two captains’ hands. It is written in the chit how many deliveries early they will chase the target. Whichever captain says that he will finish the match earlier, he gets to chase.”
“My suggestion is to give an extra PowerPlay over to the team batting first. The team batting second will get a six-over PowerPlay, but the team batting first will get one over between the 10th to 16th overs, where only two fielders will be outside the circle,” he concluded.
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