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The ICC Men’s WT20 is happening after a gap of more than 5 years. The nature of the game is such that it has gone through several small but noticeable changes.
New technologies have been involved and new rules established, since the previous edition in 2016. Some of the following are the most significant changes which we are witnessing in this ongoing World Cup.
The decision review system (commonly referred to as DRS) was not implemented in T20Is before September 2017. Since ICC allowed and encouraged the use of DRS in T20Is, it has become an integral part of the format.
Shorter formats tend to be affected more by minute instances and decisions, thus the accuracy of decisions becomes even more important.
Initially, one review per innings was permitted in T20Is. Since the start of the pandemic, due to the unavailability of umpires from neutral countries, two reviews were allowed.
According to ESPNcricinfo, despite the availability of international umpires, two reviews will be allowed per innings for each team now.
DRS is a great addition and it will bring the biggest positives of technology in cricket, to the forefront. The use of ultra-edge and ball-tracking will be mandated for the DRS and the technological requirements for these are present in the four venues.
The 2019 ICC World Cup final’s controversial finish inspired a change in the outcome of tied results. Now, if a super over has a drawn result, another round of super over is played instead of a boundary count.
Another new rule could affect run-outs as well because it states that even if the bat bounces after the batter reaches their crease, they are deemed not out.
Similar to the now-defunct boundary count rule, DLS has seen its fair share of controversy and criticism. That is something ICC have proposed a change for as well.
As per the pre-existing rules related to the DLS method, in case of a delay or a forced-to-stop game, each team needs to bat for a minimum of five overs for the result to be decided in a T20I game.
However, in the semi-final and the final of the T20 World Cup 2021, each team will have to bat for a minimum of ten overs for the result to be calculated via the DLS method.
Most of these changes have been implemented in the Women’s WT20 and quite successfully so. Thus their impact should only be a positive one.