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June 27, 2025

ICC introduces new powerplay rules for shortened men’s T20 matches

ICC introduces new powerplay rules for shortened men’s T20 matches
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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a revised method for calculating Powerplay duration in reduced-length men’s T20 Internationals, effective July 2025.

Under the updated rules, Powerplay length in truncated matches will now be rounded to the nearest ball, not the nearest over. This ensures the Powerplay remains close to 30% of the total innings. For instance:

  • An 8-over innings now features 2.2 overs (14 balls) of Powerplay
  • A 9-over game has 2.4 overs
  • A 6-over match includes 1.5 overs
  • A 7-over match includes 2.1 overs

Previously, rounding Powerplay to the nearest whole over led to fielding imbalance in rain-shortened games—over or under-rewarding either batters or bowlers. The new calculation aligns more precisely with game length to maintain fairness .

This ball-by-ball method has been successfully used in England’s T20 Blast for years. According to the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee, ending Powerplays mid-over “has caused no difficulty for players or officials”.

The changes take effect from 2 July 2025 alongside other adjustments to white-ball playing conditions.

By adopting a more precise, proportional approach to Powerplay overs in rain-affected or shortened T20s, the ICC aims to enhance fairness and preserve the intended competitive balance of the format. This tweak reduces fielding inequity and follows a model already tested in top domestic leagues.


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