ICC Tweaks T20 PowerPlay Rules for Rain-Affected Matches, Prioritizes Fair Play

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced alterations to the Playing Conditions for Twenty20 Internationals, with the most significant change impacting PowerPlay calculations. Specifically, the duration of the PowerPlay will now be calculated to the nearest ball, instead of the nearest over.

Strategic field placement during a T20I PowerPlay © Getty

Under existing regulations, the first six overs constitute the PowerPlay, representing approximately 30% of a full 20-over innings. Shortening an innings means the rounding to the nearest over can significantly impact the game.

When the number of overs for the batting team is reduced, the number of PowerPlay overs will be adjusted according to the table below. This table applies to both the first and second innings of a match.

Previously, an 8-over innings would have contained two PowerPlay overs, while a 9-over innings would have had three. According to the new table, the PowerPlay will now end after 2.2 and 2.4 overs, respectively, maintaining a proportion closer to 30%.

The ICC stated that the change has been successfully implemented in the T20 Blast in England for years. The ICC Men's Cricket Committee has now accepted this method. For example, in an 8-over innings, the umpire will signal the end of the PowerPlay after 2 balls of the 3rd over. Three additional fielders will then be allowed to move outside the inner circle.

Concussion Replacements

The ICC had previously advised that concussion replacements in Men's T20I matches must be identified and named before the match starts. This rule aims to ensure a level playing field by removing the advantage of the home team having access to a larger pool of players. The recommendation is to nominate the following concussion replacements to the match referee before the match:

• One wicketkeeper
• One batter
• One seam bowler
• One spin bowler
• One all-rounder

The ICC acknowledges that Associate Member teams playing T20I matches might face challenges identifying five specific concussion replacement players for every match, especially when playing overseas. To address this, the system adopted for Associate Member T20Is will accommodate these limitations.

Teams can nominate a batter as the replacement wicketkeeper. The referee may require the nominated batter to keep wicket if used as the replacement wicketkeeper. Alternatively, the referee may allow another player in the starting XI to keep wicket instead of the nominated replacement, at their discretion. The goal is to ensure a like-for-like replacement, without providing an unfair advantage.

Teams are also permitted to nominate the same player for multiple categories. For instance, if an all-rounder is nominated for more than one position and replaces a batter, the referee might restrict them from bowling, treating them solely as a batter replacement.

There has never been a requirement for the concussion replacement to be restricted to the playing squad, allowing teams to nominate any eligible player. The overriding principle remains a like-for-like replacement, with the referee having the discretion to assess replacements based on the specific circumstances.

Examples:

• Home Team: Easier to nominate 5 specific replacement players, as they can nominate from outside the squad selected for the match. This means that every home player in the country who is eligible to play can be nominated as a concussion replacement. If difficult, the same player can be nominated more than once.
• Away Team: Typically 14 players in a touring squad. The team should nominate the 3 players not in the playing XI, with two of them nominated twice. If a replacement is required, it will be dealt with at the time based on the principle of a like-for-like replacement from the nominations. If there are eligible players outside of the squad who are available in the country where the team is playing, they can be considered as nominations.

Under exceptional circumstances, the match referee may consider a replacement player who is outside of the nominated replacements submitted by the team for the match, which is covered in the nomination form.

Saliva on the Ball

The ICC states that if any substance, including saliva, is used to alter the condition of the ball, the ball must be replaced. A new clause prevents the ball from being automatically changed if a team deliberately applies saliva to force a replacement.

These changes apply exclusively to the Men's playing conditions. The Women's playing conditions will be updated in October. The new playing conditions will be effective from July 10, 2025.