The ICC Board held its first meeting of 2015 at the ICC Headquarters in Dubai on 28 January. Among the decisions made and reports received were:

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 playing conditions

The ICC Board reinstated the use of a Super Over in the event of a tie in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final. This now replicates the arrangements for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final and other recent ICC events where a winner will be determined on the day of the final (weather permitting), and a Super Over was the most credible way to separate the two sides.

The ICC Board also approved a change to the application of ICC Code of Conduct offences relating to slow over-rates in ICC events so that captains do not carry any prior minor over-rate offence ‘strikes’ or over-rate suspensions from other series into an ICC event.

This approval means all captains will enter the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with no over-rate ‘strikes’ against their names, and they will only be suspended from playing in an ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match if over-rate offences are committed during the event.

Any over-rate ‘strikes’ incurred prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be carried forward to the first bilateral series after the event.

Player behaviour and safety

The ICC Board reiterated its support for the umpires clamping down on poor player behaviour, particularly leading into and during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

The Board considered issues around player safety following the tragic death of Australia batsman Phillip Hughes during a first-class match, and was briefed on the ICC-supported research project to improve the safety of cricket helmets which has recently resulted in a new British Safety Standard being introduced.

It was noted that helmet manufacturers have now introduced a number of new helmet models that comply with the updated British Standard, and that an increasing number of international players have been choosing to wear the helmet models that comply with this new safety standard.

Schedule of ICC Events 2015-2019

The ICC Board received an update on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and approved the dates of the ICC Events through to 2019. These are:

Other decisions

The ACSU Chairman, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, with the prior approval of the ICC Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board, has exercised his discretion to allow Mohammad Amir to return to domestic cricket played under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board with immediate effect. Amir’s five-year ban is scheduled to expire on 2 September 2015. The ACSU Chairman had exercised the powers vested in him under Article 6.8 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code after he was satisfied that Amir had cooperated with the ACSU by fully disclosing his part in the matters that led to his disqualification, admitting his guilt, showing remorse and cooperating with the Unit’s ongoing investigations and by recording messages for the ACSU education sessions.

The ICC Board noted that since the last meeting the Full Council had, by circular resolution, approved the proposed changes to the ICC’s Membership Criteria, which relaxed the obligation that an ICC Member must be the ‘sole’ governing body in a particular jurisdiction, whilst enforcing that the ICC will only recognise one governing body in any one territory.

The ICC Board also discussed a range of matters regarding the USA Cricket Association (USACA), and decided to issue a letter to USACA requesting certain information be provided about its continued compliance with the ICC’s constitution and membership criteria.

The ICC Board received the annual anti-doping report and was pleased to note a 17 per cent increase in drug testing in the year 2014. Of the 1,210 drug tests conducted across domestic and international cricket in the year 2014, none resulted in any violation. While two violations were reported in 2014, these resulted from domestic tests conducted in late 2013.

The ICC Board consists of the nominated representatives of each of the 10 Full Members plus three elected Associate Member representatives. The meeting is chaired by Mr Narayanaswami Srinivasan. Also present are the ICC President and the ICC Chief Executive.

ICC Chairman                                                Narayanaswami Srinivasan

ICC President                                                 Mustafa Kamal

ICC Chief Executive                                      David Richardson

Australia                                                         Wally Edwards

Bangladesh                                                     Mahbubul Anam*

England                                                           Giles Clarke

India                                                                Narayanaswami Srinivasan

New Zealand                                                   Greg Barclay

Pakistan                                                          Shaharyar M. Khan

South Africa                                                   Chris Nenzani

Sri Lanka                                                        Jayantha Dharmadasa

West Indies                                                     Dave Cameron

Zimbabwe                                                       Wilson Manase

Associate Member Director (Bermuda)         Neil Speight

Associate Member Director (Namibia)          Francois Erasmus

Associate Member Director (Singapore)       Imran Khawaja

*Alternate to Nazmul Hassan

The CEC comprises the Chief Executives of the 10 Full Members as well as three Associate Member representatives. Also present is the ICC Chief Executive who chairs the meeting, and, by invitation, the ICC Chairman, the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee and the Chair of the ICC Women’s Committee.

ICC Chief Executive (Chairman)                              David Richardson                                          

ICC Chairman (ex Officio)                                        Narayanaswami Srinivasan

ICC Cricket Committee Chairman (ex Officio)        Anil Kumble

Australia                                                                     Wally Edwards*

Bangladesh                                                                 Nizam Uddin Chowdhury

England                                                                       Tom Harrison

India                                                                            Sanjay Patel

New Zealand                                                               David White

Pakistan                                                                      Subhan Ahmed

South Africa                                                               Haroon Lorgat

Sri Lanka                                                                    Nishantha Ranatunga

West Indies                                                                 Michael Muirhead

Zimbabwe                                                                   Wilfred Mukondiwa

Associate Member Representative                             John Cribbin

Associate Member Representative                             Warren Deutrom

Associate Member Representative                             David East

*alternate to James Sutherland

Apologies

Clare Connor (Chair Women’s Committee)