ICC makes 'Stop Clock' rule permanent in men's ODIs and T20Is

The ICC’s ‘Stop Clock’ rule will ensure ODIs and T20Is end on time.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to ensure timely completion of matches in white-ball cricket with the permanent implementation of the stop clock rule. The apex body of cricket implemented the 60-second stop clock rule on a trial basis from December 2023, where the fielding teams needed to restart immediately after the end of over.

Now the ICC has confirmed after its board meeting that the rule will be implemented in both T20Is and ODIs permanently. And this rule will be seen in the upcoming mega ICC event, i.e., ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will be played in the West Indies and the United States of America from 2nd June to 29th June. The board has directed to apply ‘Stop Clock’ rule in all men’s ODI and T20I matches from 1st June, 2024.

When did ICC introduce the stop clock rule in cricket? 

In December 2023, the apex body of cricket announced that they would introduce a new rule, the stop-clock trial, to pace up the games. The new rule was tested on a trial basis for a period of six months, from December 2023 to April 2024. The trial was first tested during the five-match T20I series between the West Indies and England, which started from December 12 in Barbados. 

“We are continually looking at ways to speed up the pace of play across international cricket,” said ICC General Manager Wasim Khan.

“The stop clock trial in white ball international cricket follows the introduction of a successful new playing condition in 2022, which resulted in the fielding team only being allowed four fielders outside of the inner circle if they were not in a position to bowl the first ball of their final over in the stipulated time.” “The outcomes of the stop clock trial will be assessed at the end of the trial period,” Wasim Khan added.

What is the stop clock rule?

Similar to tennis, where a serving player gets just 30 seconds to restart the play, the ICC also tends to reduce time during games, especially during white-ball cricket. According to the rule, the fielding side will get just 60 seconds to start the new after after the completion of the previous over. The third umpire will switch on the timer as soon as the bowler completes the over. 

The umpires will have the right right to penalize a team depending on several factors like DRS calls or any other circumstances. The decision to make this new rule permanent was approved at the ICC meeting in Dubai after it suggested the rule helped save 20 minutes per ODI.

What will be the punishment?

According to sources, the umpires will first give two warnings to the fielding side for violating the stop clock rule before penalizing the team. The penalty will be five runs for every time the side violates the rule and after the first two warnings. In the event of a drinks break or DRS calls on the last ball of the over, the on-field umpires will have the right to decide when to start the stop clock.

The stop clock rule’s trial period was due to end in April 2024 but the ICC understood that they have found a reasonable reasons in giving it a permanent go for all ODIs and T20Is.

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