Changes made to ICC Code of Conduct and DRS umpire's call

With immediate effect, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a couple of changes to the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel and also the DRS Umpire's Call interpretation on Thursday (September 22).

Although there hasn't been a modification in the list of offences or the penalties levied, players will now accumulate Demerit Points - which will remain with a player for two years - if found breaching the code which will lead to repeat offenders being suspended.

All players will begin with zero Demerit Points from 22 September following the introduction of these changes.

The decision to change the DRS rule regarding umpire's call in LBW reviews taken during the annual conference in Edinburgh in July, will also come into effect from September 22.

The change pertaining to an LBW 'umpires call' in the new DRS playing condition is that, "For a Not Out decision to be overturned, more than half the ball now has to be impacting the pad within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps), and the ball needs to be hitting the stumps within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps and the bottom of the bails (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails)," the ICC release stated.

The first match to implement the new DRS playing condition will be the One-Day International between South Africa and Ireland in Benoni on Sunday (September 25).