Not ICC! BCCI Introduces New Rules For Deliberate Short Run

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), no doubt, is the most powerful cricketing board in the world. They are considered the pioneers of world cricket and is the richest cricket board in the world, which says a lot about themselves and their stature.

The BCCI has been working on several things tirelessly to make sure that the game gets even better in future. The governing body has been testing several rules in their domestic circuit, which is paving the way for the ICC to adapt even in international cricket.

Since the last few years, the BCCI has implemented the Impact Player rule in their domestic circuit. This has also been there in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Also, they had introduced the stop-watch system, which is now even part of International cricket.

What are BCCI New Rules on Short Run?

On Saturday (16th August), the BCCI came up with another game-changing rule, which soon might be implemented by the ICC as well. The Indian cricket body has introduced new rules in case the batters of the opposition teams take a deliberate short run.

According to the BCCI new rules on short run, the fielding captain will decide who will take the strike if there is a deliberate short run. This came in the light of rising attempts by the batters to run short intentionally while taking a couple so that the regular batters can retain the strike.

This is quite a common practice in T20s and franchise cricket as well. The short run rule cricket is already there. It states that if there is a deliberate attempt to run short, then it will cost five penalty runs to the fielding side and possible hearing before the match referee.

The BCCI stated: “A deliberate short run is an attempt for batters to appear to run more than one run, while at least one batter deliberately does not make good their ground at one end. Batters may choose to abort a run, provided the umpire believes that there was no intention by the batter concerned to deceive the umpires or to score the run in which they didn't make their ground.”

What Does the Short Run Rule Cricket State?

There are certain rules for short run in cricket, which are as follows:

18.5.2 The bowler's end umpire shall - disallow all runs to the batting side;

• signal No ball or Wide to the scorers, if applicable; - award 5 Penalty runs to the fielding side;
• Request the captain of the fielding side to identify which of the two batters will take a strike for the next delivery.
• award any other 5-run Penalty that is applicable except for Penalty runs under clause 28.3 (Protective helmets belonging to the fielding side);
• inform the scorers as to the number of runs to be recorded; and - inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of the reason for this action.

The umpires together may report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match to the BCCI Match Referee. The BCCI also brought a rule change in case a batter retires for any other reason. As per the new rules, he will be considered as dismissed immediately and won't be allowed to bat again. His innings will be recorded as 'Retired - out'." All these rules will be applicable in all three formats in the Indian domestic circuit.

BCCI Adopts ICC's One-Ball Rule

After the ICC implemented the rule of only one ball used in ODIs after 34 balls, the BCCI has implemented the same in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which is the premier domestic 50-over competition in the country. This will help in bringing the art of reverse swing back in the game. The reverse swing will help the best bowlers in the world reignite their prowess.

The rule states: "Each fielding team shall have two new balls for its innings to be used in alternate overs, i.e. one from each end for overs 1 to 34. At the end of over 34, the fielding team will choose one of the two balls from the innings to be used for all the remaining overs of the innings. The other ball will be added to the stock of replacement balls for the innings."