An in-match penalty for slow over rates in both men’s and women’s T20 Internationals comes into effect from January 2022, with the updated playing conditions also providing for an optional drinks interval midway through the innings in all bilateral T20 international cricket.
The new rule states that a fielding side must be in position to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled or rescheduled time for the end of the innings. If they are not in such a position, one fewer fielder will be permitted outside of the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs of the innings. So, if you are bowling your 18th or 19th over and your scheduled time is up, the bowling side can only have 4 fielders outside of the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs of the innings. What needs to be seen is how events such as changing of bats by the batters, injury/concussion checks by physio’s and DRS calculations will impact the determination of the time period remaining for a bowling side to complete their full quota of 20 overs.
The optional drinks break of two minutes and thirty seconds may be taken at the mid-point of each innings subject to an agreement between the playing Members before the start of each series. The following changes were made after discussion on the recommendation made by the ICC Cricket Committee.
