International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced an in-game penalty for slow overrates in both men's and women's T20Is, to come into effect from this month. Teams will be allowed to have only four, as opposed to five, players if they fail to comply to the over-rate in the non-Powerplay overs.
The ICC website states that "a fielding side must be in a position to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled or rescheduled time for the end of the innings. If they are not in such a position, one fewer fielder will be permitted outside of the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs of the innings."
The ICC took a suggestion from the England and Wales Cricket Board, who implemented a similar rule in the first season of The Hundred. The ICC states that it replicated it after reading the reports of its effectiveness to improve the pace at which the game is played.
"In another change, an optional drinks break of two minutes and thirty seconds may be taken at the mid-point of each innings subject to agreement between Members at the start of each series," states the ICC website.
The first men’s match to be played under the new playing conditions will be the one-off tie between the West Indies and Ireland at the Sabina Park in Jamaica on 16 January while the first T20I of the three-match series between South Africa and the West Indies in Centurion on 18 January will be the first women’s match played under the new playing conditions.