ICC Approves Major Rule Changes to Modernize International Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a series of significant rule changes aimed at enhancing the appeal and efficiency of international cricket. The decisions were taken during the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee meeting, attended by ICC Cricket Committee Chairman Sourav Ganguly. The new regulations are scheduled to come into effect from October 1.

One of the key changes allows teams in Test matches to switch from the traditional red ball to a pink ball during low-light conditions, provided both teams agree. The ICC has also permitted head coaches or designated representatives to communicate with players during scheduled drinks breaks. Additionally, a mandatory 15-minute interval has been introduced for T20 matches, while new guidelines for assessing light conditions and the use of Hawk-Eye technology to review suspected illegal bowling actions have been approved. The governing body has also confirmed the full implementation of revised leg-side wide rules and rescheduled the Women's Champions Trophy 2027 to February 14–28. Furthermore, the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 will feature participation from five Full Members and five Associate Members.