India to host Twenty20 World Cup in March-April 2016: ICC

New Delhi: India is all set to host the next Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled to be held from March 11 to April 3 in 2016, after the ICC Board, which held its first meeting of 2015 at the ICC Headquarters, ratified the decision in Dubai on Wednesday.

The ICC Board took some important decisions as they also reinstated the use of a Super Over in the event of a tie in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final.

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.