Tests heading for draw can be cut-off

In an effort to cut down on the boredom factor, the International Cricket Council has approved early termination of Test matches on the last afternoon if no clear result is possible.

In an effort to cut down on the boredom factor, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved early termination of Test matches on the last afternoon if no clear result is possible.

The chief executives’ committee approved the recommendation that in a Test match where, on the last afternoon, it is clear no result is possible, play can be called off any time once a minimum of 75 overs are completed.

Previous regulations allowed for stumps to be drawn after 30 minutes of the final hour had elapsed.

This new regulation will apply with immediate effect, ICC said in a press release.

The CEC also adopted the ICC gender recognition policy, enabling cricketers who have undergone gender reassignment surgery to play women’s cricket at international level providing they meet the required criteria.

The adoption of such a policy follows ICC’s integration with International Women’s Cricket Council in 2005 and brings it into line with other international sporting organisations.

The annual conference also adopted the new strategic plan, the organisation’s second such plan following on from the previous one that ran from 2001-2005.

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Newly appointed ICC president Percy Sonn said the new strategic plan was an excellent document which charted the course of the ICC through to 2010.

“It is the organisation’s roadmap for the next five years, years that should be great for cricket,” he said.

India to host 2011 World Cup final

Karachi/London: India will host the final of the 2011 World Cup with the opening ceremony to be held in Bangladesh, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Abbas Zaidi said. “It is decided India will host the final while the semis would be held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan,” Zaidi said. The ICC also said that is to investigate players’ workloads after criticism of its international schedule. In a speech to the ICC’s annual business forum at Lord’s, chief executive Malcolm Speed said the project was likely to compare player workloads in different eras as well as assessing injury trends. (Reuters)