The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that stop clocks will be permanently used in all limited-overs international fixtures starting from the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
ICC made the usage of stop clocks mandatory on March 15 following the annual Board meetings. This rule was implemented to help save time during matches.
The rule was implemented on a trial basis during the three-match ODI series between West Indies and England in December last year.
Initially, it was decided that the trial would run for six months, starting from December 2023 and ending in April 2024.
However, the positive results of the trial led the cricket governing body to implement the stop clock rule as a playing condition for international limited-overs fixtures.
“Results presented to the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) demonstrated that approximately 20 minutes had been saved per ODI match,” the ICC stated in a press release.
“The feature has now been added as a mandatory playing condition in all Full Member ODI and T20I matches from 1 June 2024.
“As per the stop clock rule that was trialled in men’s white-ball cricket, the fielding side is expected to start a new over within 60 seconds of the completion of the previous over.
An electronic stop clock will be displayed on the ground and the third umpire will be responsible for starting the countdown.
The clock will count from 60 seconds to zero and in case the fielding side fails to complete their over within the time limit, they will receive two warnings.
Further violations of the 60-second rule will result in a five-run penalty per incident.
“There are a few exceptions to this rule, and the clock, if already started, can be cancelled in certain situations.
“These include, when a new batter comes to the wicket between overs, an official drinks interval has been called, the umpires have approved the onfield treatment of an injury to a batter or fielder and the time lost is for any circumstances beyond the control of the fielding side,” the ICC added.
