ICC grants Netherlands, Nepal T20I status

Chief Executive Richardson to chair anti-corruption review group.

KARACHI:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to give Netherlands and Nepal T20 International (T20I) status after their good showing in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

Both teams played well and sprung upsets in the tournament, which caused the relevant authorities to take notice of their rapid growth and potential in international cricket.

“The ICC Board has agreed to give T20I status to the Netherlands and Nepal, both of which qualified for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20,” the press release confirmed.

After their induction, there are now eight associate sides with T20I status including Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Ireland, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and the UAE.

Among other changes, the duration of a T20I innings has been increased by five minutes, while it has also retained the Decision Review System (DRS) 80-over top-up — modifications which will come into effect from October 1.

The cricket committee has suggested some major changes to the ICC playing conditions for international cricket. A bowler who has spent time off the field in a Test will be allowed to resume bowling after he has either spent the same period of time on the field as he spent off the field, or he has been back on the field for 30 overs — whichever occurs first.

The committee also agreed to increase the size of boundaries to maintain an acceptable and adequate area to cover the field.

Meanwhile, the Board expressed satisfaction on more certainty around long-term scheduling with a reasonable balance between home and away matches for all 10 teams across the three formats.

“The ICC Board agreed with the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) recommendation that the Members must sign all bilateral agreements through to 2023 before the next ICC meeting, which takes place in October,” the release added.

Review group formed for anti-corruption

The ICC Board also discussed and agreed on the terms of reference for a review of cricket’s anti-corruption processes and resources at both international and domestic level. The review group, which is aimed at improving the structure, will be chaired by ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, who received a two-year contract extension.

The group will also include England and Wales Cricket Board’s Chief Executive David Collier, Board of Control for Cricket in India’s representative Sundar Raman, Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive James Sutherland and an independent expert.

Several committees have also been formed to improve the standard of international cricket as the ICC meetings come to a conclusion in Melbourne. The committees include the ICC Executive Committee, Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee, a Governance Review Committee and the Development Committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2014.

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