The ICC Cricket Committee has expressed deep concern at the crammed international
calendar, saying "the addition of many ODIs" to the Future Tour
Programme was bound to have a "severe impact" on the standard of the
game and the players' fitness.
"The committee expressed concern about the congestion in the international
calendar in particular the addition of many ODIs which, it felt, may have a severe
impact on the quality, intensity and standard of international cricket and may
result in injuries to players and a dearth of fast bowlers," the ICC
said in a statement.
The Committee, which met here over the last two days under
the chairmanship of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, recommended
against allowing Zimbabwe to return to Test fold.
It said that the African team must "demonstrate its ability to perform
at a standard that does not risk undermining the integrity of the game"
before being allowed to play the longer version of the game.
It also proposed significant changes to the ODI playing conditions
including change of ball after 35 overs in an innings and allowing a free hit
off the delivery that follows a no-ball.
Permitting three fielders to be placed outside the inner circle during the
second or third power plays, discontinuing the use of adhesives on pitches,
stretching the boundaries wherever possible boundaries to a maximum of 90 yards
- were among the other changes recommended by the Committee.
The committee gave a thumbs-down to a trial of player appeals
to TV umpire at the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa
in September. It, however, gave a go ahead to the concept being tried out in
domestic championships.
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