Cape Town - The International Cricket Council's Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) unanimously agreed at its Hong Kong conference to abolish runners for injured players in international cricket.
According to the ICC's website, the CEC also agreed with the ICC Cricket Committee's recommendations for the further enhancement of international 50-over cricket with the restriction of the elective powerplays to between the 16th and 40th overs of each innings and also to the use of two new balls per innings - one from each end. This will come into effect from 1 October.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Even though the success of 50-over cricket played during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was universally acknowledged, the CEC rightly supported the enhancements recommended by the ICC Cricket Committee to strengthen the format further, including encouraging Members to trial some specific innovations in their domestic cricket."
These innovations include a review of the maximum number of overs that a bowler can bowl; an increase from one to two for the number of short balls permitted per over; no compulsory requirement for close catchers; and a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle during non-powerplay overs.
The committee also agreed on stricter sanctions against captains for slow over-rates in Test cricket. A captain will now be suspended for two over-rate breaches in a 12-month period in any one format of the game rather than the current position which is three breaches prior to suspension.
According to the ICC's website, the CEC also agreed with the ICC Cricket Committee's recommendations for the further enhancement of international 50-over cricket with the restriction of the elective powerplays to between the 16th and 40th overs of each innings and also to the use of two new balls per innings - one from each end. This will come into effect from 1 October.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Even though the success of 50-over cricket played during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was universally acknowledged, the CEC rightly supported the enhancements recommended by the ICC Cricket Committee to strengthen the format further, including encouraging Members to trial some specific innovations in their domestic cricket."
These innovations include a review of the maximum number of overs that a bowler can bowl; an increase from one to two for the number of short balls permitted per over; no compulsory requirement for close catchers; and a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle during non-powerplay overs.
The committee also agreed on stricter sanctions against captains for slow over-rates in Test cricket. A captain will now be suspended for two over-rate breaches in a 12-month period in any one format of the game rather than the current position which is three breaches prior to suspension.