ICC to abolish soft signal beginning ICC WTC final between India and Australia - Reports

The ICC WTC final between India and Australia at The Oval will be the first international game to have this new rule in place.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made the widely-debated and much-awaited rule change of abolishing the soft signal in the playing conditions (PCs) of the international games. The change is expected to come into force next month - at the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London.

The soft signal rule has generated debate, with many cricket experts advocating its repeal. According to ICC rules, a "soft signal" is the initial on-field determination made by the umpire at the bowler's end that is visibly communicated to the third umpire prior to the start of the umpire review.

As per Cricbuzz, the change has been approved by the Sourav Ganguly-headed cricket committee of the ICC and the decision has been conveyed to the two finalists of the WTC summit clash - India and Australia. The new rule will be part of the PCs for the June 7-12 game at The Oval.

In addition to this, floodlights can be used during the game if natural light is poor, and the game will have a reserve day (sixth) if necessary.  

Soft signal rule much topic of debate; Ben Stokes and Jay Shah already called for the abolition  

The soft signal rule has been a subject of controversy with many stalwarts calling for its abolition. Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), raised the matter of the soft signal rule at an ICC forum in 2021.

Then, England captain Ben Stokes had done the same during the Australia-South Africa Test earlier this year.

"ICC should get rid of the soft signal and let the 3rd umpire who has all the technology make the decision when the on-field umpires send it upstairs, all the controversy is always around the soft signal given. This isn't a comment on the decision FYI (sic)," the England red ball captain Ben Stokes had said after a controversial decision of Marnus Labuschagne during an Australia-South Africa Test earlier this year.

The new rule change means that the third umpire will have the final say on all decisions, making the process fairer and removing any controversies around the soft signal.