WTC Final 2023: Finally, the soft signal by field umpires in the cricketing world will cease. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to implement the much-contested and anticipated rule change to the international games’ playing conditions (PCs). The World Test Championship Final 2023 (WTC) final in London will mark the start of the change’s implementation beginning next month.
According to Cricbuzz, the change, which was understandably agreed by the ICC’s cricket committee led by Sourav Ganguly, has been communicated to the two WTC finalists, India and Australia. The PCs for the game at The Oval on June 7–12 will include the new regulation.
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The floodlights can be turned on during the game if there is insufficient natural light, which is another important point.
The fact that the one-off game between India and Australia will have a reserve day (sixth) is another significant difference, albeit a well-known one.
The soft signal rule has generated controversy, with many ardent supporters pressing for its repeal.
“ICC should do away with the soft signal and let the third umpire, who is equipped with all the equipment, to make the call when the on-field umpires send it upstairs, as the argument invariably centres on the soft signal issued. This isn’t a comment on the decision FYI (sic),” Following a contentious Marnus Labuschagne decision during an Australia-South Africa Test earlier this year, England’s red ball skipper Ben Stokes had made a statement.
Stokes’ England team itself had benefited from a similarly debatable judgement against Pakistan when Saud Shakeel was dismissed in a Test match last year. On that instance, the general consensus was the contrary, as Pakistan captain Babar Azam claimed that the third umpire’s decision lost his team the game.
What is Soft Signal?
The soft signal rule, to put it simply, requires an on-field umpire to make a decision, even if he is unsure about it, before referring it to the third umpire, who can only overturn it if there is clear proof from the camera footage made available to him.
The third umpire will now have the last word in cases of questionable catches according to the rule change.
Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), brought up the topic at an ICC event in 2021, much before Stokes published the open call. Shah currently serves on the ICC Cricket Committee.
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