The International Cricket Council (ICC) plans to permanently adopt the Stop Clock rule to hasten the pace of limited-overs cricket among full members, following its successful trial period. This rule, introduced in December 2023, has demonstrated its effectiveness in expediting matches, saving roughly 20 minutes per One Day International (ODI) game.
Starting from June 1, 2024, the Stop Clock rule will become a fixture in the standard playing conditions for all ODI and T20I matches. Consequently, most fixtures of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, held in the West Indies and USA, will enforce this regulation. Following each over, a 60-second countdown clock will be displayed on the stadium screen. Failure by the fielding side to commence the next over before the clock expires will prompt an initial warning. Subsequent infractions will incur further warnings, with any subsequent delays resulting in a five-run penalty against the bowling team. The clock will pause during instances such as player injuries, drinks breaks, or when a new batter assumes strike, as well as for occurrences beyond the fielding team’s control.
Notably, the first four matches of the T20 World Cup 2024, involving non-Full Members like the USA, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, and Oman, will not adhere to the Stop Clock rule. However, the game between Sri Lanka and South Africa on June 2 in New York will mark the initiation of this rule in the tournament.
The primary objective of this rule is to discourage delays between overs and maintain a consistent game flow, catering to both live spectators and television audiences. Some argue that a lack of concentration, rather than deliberate time-wasting, contributes more significantly to slow over rates.
Meanwhile, India’s opening match against Ireland in the tournament will take place on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
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