ICC’s special amendments for World Cup 2015

BCCI, CA and ECB announce special amendments in ICC laws governing the game that will be in force during the World Cup

The following is a press release from the International Cricket Council:

Dubai, February 13, 2015.

In light of the considerable efforts, including but not limited to bribery, blackmail and intimidation, expended during the reorganisation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2014 and with a view to securing maximum mileage from the aforesaid initiatives, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announce special amendments in the ICC laws governing the game that will be in force during the World Cup starting tomorrow in Australia and New Zealand, namely:

Special Amendment Number 1: In the event a batsman from the teams of India, Australia or England (while playing a non-Big Three nation) strikes the ball in such a fashion that a fielder of the opposing side catches the ball at or within 10 feet of the boundary, the boundary shall automatically be deemed to have been brought in 20 feet prior to the catch taking place. As a result, the umpires shall signal a six instead of a dismissal.

Special Amendment Number 2: In the event a bowler from the teams of India, Australia or England (while playing a non-Big Three nation) appeals for a leg-before dismissal, the umpire shall consider the whole width of the batting crease to be the wicket for the purpose of determining whether or not the ball would have gone on to hit the wicket.

Special Amendment Number 3 (the South Africa & New Zealand rule): Each South Africa and New Zealand batsman, while playing against a Big Three nation, shall be allowed to score a maximum of 20 runs before being automatically ruled out.

Special Amendment Number 4: Any bowler of a non-Big Three nation who, while bowling to a batsman of India, Australia or England, delivers an unplayable ball shall be censured by the umpires and shall face an automatic suspension for the next game. In the event such bowlers take more than two wickets against a Big Three nation in a game, they shall be withdrawn from the tournament with immediate effect.

Special Amendment Number 5: Players from India, Australia and England may, if required, use abusive, rude, pornographic and racially offensive language against players of non-Big Three nations. In particular, the Australians are allowed to insist on English being the lingua franca for the purpose of sledging.

Special Amendment Number 6 (the If Pigs Should Fly rule): In the event two or more non-Big Three nations manage to qualify for the semi-finals, one or more of these teams shall renounce its berth in the semi-final to one or more of the Big Three teams so that only one non-Big Three team plays in the semi-finals. The Big Three team or teams being elevated thus shall decide whose slot they shall take.

Further amendments to be issued during the course of the World Cup 2015 on a needs-be basis. Enjoy the tournament!

BCCI, CA & ECB.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th,  2015.

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