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The International Cricket Council is considering a series of sweeping changes to cricket’s playing conditions across formats, including a potentially game-changing proposal that could see teams switch from the traditional red ball to the pink ball during Test matches under specific circumstances, according to a report by Cricbuzz. The proposed amendments were reportedly discussed during the ICC Chief Executives Committee meeting held virtually on Thursday, with former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who currently heads the ICC Cricket Committee, among those involved in the discussions. One of the biggest talking points is the possibility of using a pink ball in regular Test cricket if weather interruptions force matches to continue under lights. The report states that both teams would need to agree to the switch before the start of the series, with “mutual consent” expected to be a key condition. Exactly how the transition from the red ball to the pink ball would take place during an ongoing Test remains unclear, but the ICC is understood to be actively exploring the move. Cricbuzz reports that the proposed regulations could officially come into effect from October 1, subject to approval by the ICC Board at its meeting in Ahmedabad on May 30. Another notable proposal involves allowing head coaches onto the field during drinks breaks in ODI cricket. Under current playing conditions, only substitute players are permitted to enter the field during those intervals. The existing clause reads: “Any player taking drinks onto the field shall be dressed in proper cricket attire.” If approved, head coaches would also be able to interact directly with players during drinks intervals in ODIs, similar to what is already permitted in T20 Internationals for tactical discussions. However, it is still not confirmed whether coaches would need to wear official team kit while entering the playing area. The ICC is also looking at reducing the innings break in T20Is from 20 minutes to 15 minutes. The current rule states: “There shall be a 20-minute interval between innings, taken from the call of Time before the interval until the call of Play on resumption after the interval.” A shorter break would leave teams with less time to regroup and plan ahead of the chase. Meanwhile, another important addition under consideration is giving on-field umpires access to HawkEye technology to monitor suspected illegal bowling actions during matches. While the operational details are yet to be finalised, the move appears aimed at tightening oversight around suspect bowling actions in international cricket. According to Cricbuzz, all the proposed amendments remain under discussion and are awaiting formal approval from the ICC Board later this month.
