New rules in cricket: Players can be sent off
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Players can be sent off in cricket for serious misconduct in new rules that come into effect on Thursday.
As well as giving umpires the power to send a player off for the rest of the match for a serious offense, the new rules published by the International Cricket Council say a bowler who bowls a deliberate front-foot no ball is guilty of "unfair play" and isn't allowed to bowl again for the rest of the innings.
The ICC has also introduced new limits to the size of bats, will allow the decision review system to be used in Twenty20 games, and changed a law so that batsmen will be given out if they are caught after the ball strikes a wicketkeeper or fielder's helmet.
India's Hardik Pandya bats during the third one-day international cricket match between India and Australia in Indore, India, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Players can be sent off for level four offenses, which are the most serious under the ICC code of conduct. Those offenses include assaulting or threatening to assault another player, an umpire, the match referee or a spectator, or any act of violence on the field of play.
The new laws will be in use for the first time on Thursday in the first test between South Africa and Bangladesh, the first test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and the fourth one-day international between India and Australia.
West Indies' Chris Gayle, right, is run out for 94 during during the third one day international at Bristol County Ground, England, Sunday Sept. 24, 2017. (David Davies/PA via AP)
