A unique situation had emerged in the blockbuster showdown between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022 match on Sunday (August 28) by which the two teams had to depute an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle in the final phases of their bowling innings. While India won the highly entertaining Group A clash by five wickets, with Hardik Pandya’s all-round skills being the driving push behind the triumph, the onlookers most likely missed that in both the innings the teams needed to situate an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle in the last phases of their bowling innings.

On Monday (August 29), the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave an explanation as to why the rival teams had to situate an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle.

“As per a new clause in T20I playing conditions, both India and Pakistan were forced to position an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle in the final stages of their bowling innings in their Asia Cup meeting on Sunday. Both sides failed to be in a position to bowl the first ball of their final over by the scheduled end of innings time, and were penalised by the added restriction for slow over-rate, introduced in January this year,”

said ICC on Monday

Bowling first, India had bowled less than 18 overs in the allotted time, meaning Rohit Sharma had to field with five fielders inside the circle for the last two overs. The side offered 23 runs into the eleven balls, bowling Pakistan out for 147 with one ball left in the innings.

In India’s chase, Babar Azam-led Pakistan ended up experiencing a similar situation, running out of time and needing to bowl the last three overs under the same restriction. Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya benefited from the extra fielder in, scoring the 32 runs needed to win, and finishing the chase with two balls to spare.

“The change was recommended by the ICC Cricket Committee last year, an organisation that sits in part to improve the pace of play in all formats. The first match played under the revised playing conditions was a one-off T20I match between the West Indies and Ireland at Sabina Park in mid-January,”

said ICC

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It expressed the in-match penalties ‘are in addition to the sanctions for slow over rate outlined in Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, and the same restriction will be in place at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia in October and November this year’.