The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning some major changes to the rules of cricket.

One of the main proposed changes is related to the two-new-ball rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Currently, two new balls are used from both ends. Under the new proposal, both balls will be used only until the 25th over. After that, the bowling team will choose one of the two balls to continue with for the remaining 25 overs. The aim is to keep the ball in better condition and bring more balance between bat and ball. It has been noticed that the white Kookaburra ball used in ODIs often gets damaged or loses colour by the 35th over. With this change, reverse swing may return in the final overs, adding more excitement.

Another suggested change is for Test cricket. The ICC Cricket Committee, led by Sourav Ganguly, has proposed adding a 60-second clock between overs to speed up the game. This is already being used in white-ball cricket to reduce delays. The goal is to ensure 90 overs are completed in a full day of Test cricket.

The final proposal is to make the Men’s U19 World Cup a 20-over tournament instead of the current 50-over format. The Women’s U19 World Cup has already seen success in the T20 format, so the ICC sees it as a good model.

These changes, if approved, will be implemented starting from the next ICC broadcast cycle in 2028.

BDST: 1833 HRS, April 11, 2025
MSK