The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the powerplay rules for shortened T20 matches, defining the number of overs allowed with a restricted field in the playing conditions for the shortest format.
The new rules comes into effect from July and aim to provide consistency in fielding restrictions across varying match lengths.
Under the revised regulations, an eight-over innings will now include a 2.2 over powerplay during which only two fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Meanwhile, the truncated games often applied rounder-off powerplay overs, such as three overs for an eight-over innings.
The ICC table on its website said for six-over innings, 1.5 overs will be of powerplay, 2.1 overs of powerplay for seven over innings, 2.2 overs for eight over innings. For Shorter innings, the powerplay overs scale accordingly,
- 5 overs: 1.3 overs
- 6 overs: 1.5 overs
- 7 overs: 2.1 overs
- 8 overs: 2.2 overs
- 9 overs: 2.4 overs
- 10 overs: 3.0 overs
- 11 overs: 3.2 overs
- 12 overs: 3.4 overs
- 13 overs: 3.5 overs
- 14 overs: 4.1 overs
- 15 overs: 4.3 overs
- 16 overs: 4.5 overs
These adjustments are intended to ensure fair and standardised playing conditions regardless of the match duration.
Meanwhile, in Test cricket, the ICC has introduced several new measures as a part of 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC cycle). Among the most significantn is the implementation of a stop clock to address slow over rates – a feature already used in limited-over formats.
“The fielding side shall be ready to start each over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed,” the ICC stated. “An electronic clock will be displayed at the ground that counts up seconds from zero to 60.”
Teams will receive two warnings for delays. A third delay will result a five penalty runs for the batting side. These warning will reset once 80 overs have been completed in the innings.
The new playing conditions now allow the fielding captain to choose which batter takes strike in the event of a deliberate short run – a move designed to discourage tactical misuse.
The updated rules came into force with the start of the new WTC cycle in Galle with Sri Lanka hosting Bangladesh in the opening test of the two-match series.
