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CricInfo The Wills World Cup 1996






WC96: Playing conditions




New Delhi, Feb 2 1996

PILCOM ANNOUNCES WORLD CUP PLAYING CONDITIONS

The Pakistan, India Lanka Committee (PILCOM) today  released  the
playing  conditions for the Wills World Cup Cricket commencing on
Feb. 11.

As per the conditions, there  will  be  a  reserve  day  for  all
matches  on  which  an  incomplete match may be replayed (but not
continued from the scheduled day). The matches will consist of 50
overs  each innings. A minimum  of minimum 25 overs per team will
constitute a match.

Barring Cuttack, the timing of the matches  in  all  the  centres
will be:

0900 - 1230 hrs (1st session)
1230 - 1315 hrs (lunch)
1315 - 1645 hrs (2nd session).

At Cuttack, where India plays Kenya on Feb 18, the timings are:

0845 - 1215 (1st session)
1215 - 1300 (lunch)
1300 - 1630 (2nd session).

For day/night matches the timings are:

1430 - 1800 (1st session)
1800 - 1845 (break)
1845 - 2215 (2nd session).

The  conditions specify that the  innings  of  the  team  batting
second  shall not commence before the schedule time for commence-
ment of the second session unless the team batting first has com-
pleted  its innings at least 30 minutes prior to the schedule in-
terval, in which case a ten minute break will occur and team bat-
ting second will commence its innings and the interval will occur
as scheduled.

Where play is delayed or interrupted the umpires will reduce  the
length of the interval as follows:

Time lost upto 60 minutes interval will be 30 minutes, between 60
to  120 minutes lost - 20 minutes more than 120 minutes lost - 10
mniutes.

INTERVALS FOR DRINKS:

Two drinks breaks per session shall be permitted each 1  hour  10
minutes  apart. Under conditions of extreme heat, the umpires may
permit extra intervals for drinks.

An individual player may be given a drink either on the  boundary
edge  or  at  the  fall of a wicket on the field provided that no
playing time is wasted. Any player taking drinks shall be dressed
in proper cricket attire.

APPOINTMENT OF UMPIRES:

There will be a World Cup panel of 12 umpires  for  on-field  du-
ties.   Pilcom will also appoint a third umpire for each match to
deal with television replays.

The third umpire will officiate in regard to tv replays when  the
umpires on the field have referred a decision to him in regard to
hit wicket, run out or stumping appeals.

The umpires on field may also refer a decision to the  third  um-
pire  when  there is uncertainty about a catch on the boundary or
whether a `four` or `six` has been scored. The third umpire  will
communicate  his decision by two way radio which will be provided
for the purpose.

The third umpire may if the need arises, advise the on-field  um-
pires  by a two-way radio for any violation of such boundary line
decisions.  None of the three umpires  appointed  for  any  match
will be from a country participating in that match.

LENGTH OF INNINGS:

(Uninterrupted matches): Each team shall bat for  50  (six  ball)
overs  unless  all  out earlier. A team shall not be permitted to
declare its innings closed.

If the team fielding first fails to bowl the required  number  of
overs  by  the scheduled time for cessation of the first session,
play shall continue until the required number of overs have  been
bowled.   Unless otherwise determined by the referre, the innings
of the team btting second shall be limited to the first  session.
The  over in progress at the scheduled cessation time shall count
as completed over.  The interval shall not be  extended  and  the
second  session shall commence at the scheduled time. The referee
may increase the number of overs to be bowled by the team bowling
second if, after consultation with the umpires he is of the opin-
ion that events beyond the control of the bowling team  prevented
that   team from  bowling  the  required  number  of overs by the
scheduled time for the cessation of the innings of the team  bat-
ting first.

If the team batting first is all out and the last wicket falls at
or  after the scheduled time for the interval, the innings of the
team batting second shall be limited to the same number of  overs
bowled  to  the  team batting first at the scheduled time for the
interval (the over in  which the last wicket falls to count as  a
complete  over).   If the team batting first is dismissed in less
than 50 overs the team batting second shall be  entitled  to  bat
for 50 overs except as provided in above.

Penalties shall apply for slow over-rates.

DELAYED OR INTERRUPTED MATCHES (in general):

A minimum 25 overs have to be bowled to the team  batting  second
to constitute a match.

The calculation of the number of overs  to  be  bowled  shall  be
based on and average rate of 15 overs is required, any recalcula-
tion must not cause the match to be reschduled to finish  earlier
than the original cessation time.

This time may be extended to allow for one extra  over  for  both
teams to be added if required.

If the team fielding second fails to bowl the required number  of
overs by the scheduled cessation time, the hours of play shall be
extended until the overs have been bowled or a results achieved.

The team batting second shall not bat for  a  greater  number  of
overs  than  the first team unless the latter has been all out in
less than the agreed number of overs.

Fractions are to be ignored in all calculations of the number  of
overs.

Provisional:

However, in day/night matches only, if the playing time  is  lost
upto  60 minutes, the overs shall not be rearranged and the hours
of play shall be extended and rescheduled to compensate for   the
lost time.

The interval between the innings of the agreed duration shall  be
rescheduled wherever applicable.

But if the playing time lost exceeds 60  minutes,  the  hours  of
play  shall  be  extended and resheduled at the first instance as
per the principles set out above and only that period of time  in
excess  of 60 minutes shall be taken into account while rearrang-
ing the number of overs.

But if at any give time, the game is interrupted at a stage where
equal  number  of  overs cannot be allocated to both teams in the
total remaining playing time (minimum 25 overs  each time),   the
innings  of  the  team  batting  first shall be terminated at the
number of overs already bowled (fraction of an over bowled  shall
be treated as a complete over).  The team batting second shall be
called upon to bat after the interval between the innings.

FIELDING RESTRICTIONS:

Two semicircles shall be drawn on the field  of  play.  The  semi
circles  have as their centre the middle stumps at either ends of
the pitch. The radius of each of  the  semicircles  is 30   yards
(27.5m).  The ends of each semicircle  are joined to the other by
a straight line drawn on the field on the same side of the pitch.

The field restriction area should be marked by continuous painted
white  lines  or dots at 5 yards (4.5m) intervals, each dot to be
covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc measur-
ing 7 inches (18cm) in diameter.

At the instant of delivery,there may not be more than five field-
ers on legside.

FOR THE FIRST 15 OVERS:

Only two fielders are permitted to be outside the field  restric-
tion  marking at the instant of delivery. For the remaining overs
only five fielders are permitted to be outside the field restric-
tion marking at the instant of delivery.

In the first 15 overs,  there must be a minimum of  2  stationary
fielders   within  15  yards  of  the  striker  at the instant of
delivery.

Where play is delayed or interrupted, affecting  the  innings  of
the team batting first and the total number of overs available is
reduced the number of overs in regard to the field   restrictions
shall  be reduced proportionately for both teams (number of overs
X 30 percent). Fractions are to be ignored.

In the event of an infringement, the square leg umpire shall call
and signal a `no ball`.

NUMBER OF OVERS PER BOWLER:

In a delayed or interrupted match where the overs are reduced for
both  teams  or for the team bowling second, no bowler 
may bowl more than one-fifth of the total overs allocated.   This
will  not  apply if a bowler has completed his quota of overs be-
fore the interruption of play.  Where the overs is not  divisible
by 5, one additional over shall  be allowed to the maximum number
per bowler necessary to make up the balance.

NO BALL:

Short pitched bowling - if the ball passes or  passed  above  the
shoulder  height  of  the striker standing upright at the crease,
either umpire can call and signal `no ball`.

WIDE BOWLING:

Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent  in-
terpretation  with regard to his law in order to prevent negative
bowling wide of the wicket.

Any offside or leg side delivery which in the opinion of the  um-
pire  does not give the batsman a reasonable opportunity to score
shall be labelled as `wide`. As a guide on the leg side, a   ball
landing clearly outside the leg stump and going further away is a
`wide`.

THE BALL:

Pilcom shall provide Kookaburra turf white  cricket  balls  which
will be used in all matches including day matches.

In the event of a ball becoming wet or soggy as a result of  play
continuing  in inclement weather or it being affected by dew , or
a ball becoming significantly discoloured and in the opinion   of
umpires  being unfit for play, the ball maybe replaced for a ball
that has had a similar amount of wear even though it has not gone
out of shape.  Either bowler or batsman can raise the matter with
the umpires and the umpires decision as to a replacement or  oth-
erwise  will  be  final.  The fielding captain or his nominee may
select the ball with which he wishes to bowl from the supply pro-
vided   by  the  home board.  Such a selection must take place in
the presence of the referere.

The  umpires  shall  retain  possession  of  the   match  ball(s)
throughout  the  duration  of the match when play is not actually
taking place. During play, umpires shall periodically and irregu-
larly  inspect the condition of the ball and shall retain posses-
sion of it at the fall of a wicket, a drinks interval, at the end
of  each  over or any other disruption of play. The umpires shall
ensure that the cricket ball(s) used in the  matches  are  handed
over   to  the  authorities  of  the home borad at the end of the
match.

BALL LOST OR BECOMING UNFIT FOR PLAY:

In the event of a ball during play being lost or, in the  opinion
of  the  umpires being unfit for play through normal use, the um-
pires shall allow to be replaced by one that in their opinion has
had  a similar amount of wear. If the ball is to be replaced, the
umpire shall inform the batsman.

DAY/NIGHT MATCHES:

If during a day/night match, or a day  match  played  with  black
sightscreens  and white balls, in the opinion of umpires, natural
light is deteriorating to an unfit level they may authorize   the
ground authority to use the artificial lighting so that the match
can continue in acceptable conditions.

PROVISIONALS:

Normally, the flood lights would be  operational  in  case  of  a
day/night match from 1600 hrs.

If a day/night match is washed out  on  its  scheduled  day,  the
match will be replayed  on the rain day as a day and night match.

FITNESS OF GROUND, WEATHER and LIGHT:

The umpires will suspend, or continue to  suspend  play  for  bad
light when they consider that there is a risk of serious physical
injury to the batsman. Amongst the facts  to  be considered   are
background, sight screens and the type of bowling.

Before deciding to suspend play, or not to resume play  after  an
interval  on  account of bad light (but for no other reason), the
umpire shall establish whether the captain of  the  batting  team
(the  batsman  at the crease may deputise for the captain) wishes
to continue in unfit conditions, if so his wishes shall be met.

 Contributed by Anoop (anoop@sarang.ee.iitb.ernet.in)