Dubai, UAE

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has amended its rule books in the New Year to avoid players taking advantage of the loopholes. According to the amendment, the TV umpire will no longer check for caught behind when he is checking for stumping. Earlier, the loophole allowed the fielding side to review the incident without the use of a Decision Review System (DRS) and hence the ICC has now tightened its grip on such incidents. The rule change will mean, that teams will have to use DRS to challenge for the caught behind and can no longer use the 'fake appeal' to review the on-field umpire’s call.

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ICC to avoid loopholes

"The change confines a stumping review to only check for stumped, therefore preventing the fielding team a free review for other modes of dismissal (i.e, caught behind) without choosing a player review," read ICC's new amendment.

In 2023, Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey made use of the loophole which allowed him to challenge the caught behind call without the use of DRS. He appealed for stumping which forced the leg umpire to go through protocols directed for such incidents. According to the previous protocols, umpires were entitled to check for those caught behind even if the appeal was for stumping. However, this won’t be the case anymore and teams will have to use DRS to challenge such calls. The umpires will be provided only camera frames essential for stumping reviews.

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The new rules have come into effect from 12 December 2023 and if a team wants to review a caught behind appeal they will have to use the DRS.

In another change of rule, a concussion substitution cannot bowl if the player he is substituting is suspended from bowling at the time of the concussion. The ICC also has limited to four minutes of the time set for on-field injury assessment and treatment.