ICC amends rules in a bid to restore balance in ODIs

In a bid to restore the balance between bat and ball, the ICC on Saturday decided to scrap the batting Powerplays and allow five fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last ten overs of an innings in one-dayers.

It has also decided to do away with the mandatory requirement of having two fielders in catching position in the first ten overs in ODIs and said that all "no balls" and not just over stepping by the bowlers will result in a free hit in both ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals.

The rule changes will come into effect for series starting on or after July 5, the ICC said in a media release issued on Saturday. The ICC Board during its Annual Conference here adopted these recommendations which were made by the ICC's cricket committee headed by the former India captain Anil Kumble in Mumbai this May.

"We have 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," ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said. "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."