The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a significant update to the powerplay rules in T20 Internationals, aiming to enhance fairness in rain-affected or shortened matches.
Effective from July 2, 2025, the new regulation stipulates that powerplay overs will be calculated to represent approximately 30% of the innings length, rounded to the nearest ball, rather than the previous method of rounding to the nearest full over.
This adjustment ensures a more proportionate application of fielding restrictions, maintaining the intended balance between bat and ball, even in truncated games. For instance:
In a 5-over innings, the powerplay will consist of 1.3 overs
In a 10-over innings, it remains at 3 overs
In a 15-over innings, the powerplay extends to 4.3 overs
This approach aligns with practices already implemented in England's T20 Blast, where powerplay durations are adjusted based on the innings length to preserve competitive equity.
The ICC's decision to adopt this method globally reflects a commitment to standardizing playing conditions and ensuring consistency across international matches.
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