The Asia Cup 2022 tournament has finally kick-started in Dubai with Sri Lanka as hosts. The first two games are done and dusted with Afghanistan upsetting Sri Lanka in the first game and India defeating Pakistan in the second match, both in Dubai.
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| Image Credits: MyKhel |
As a matter of fact, Afghanistan completely dominated Sri Lanka in the tournament opener while the second match between arch-rivals was more of a nail-biter with the game going into the final over! Incidentally, India and Pakistan were asked to field fewer players outside the 30-yard circle in this last-over thriller after failing to meet the ICC's timeline criteria!
Both India and Pakistan failed to bowl the first ball of the final over in their respective innings in the scheduled time and hence they had to face the fielding regulations. According to ICC rules and regulations, a team can only field a maximum of 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle if they fail to bowl the first ball of the final over by the scheduled end of innings.
India were found to be 2 overs short in the scheduled time and has fielded 5 fielders inside the circle for the 19th and 20th overs. Pakistan bowlers managed to squeeze 23 runs from the 11 balls they batted in the final 2 overs before getting bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs.
Pakistan were found to be 3 overs short and Indian batters Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja capitalized on these new fielding restrictions. They scored the required 32 runs in the last 3 overs taking India over the line with 2 balls to spare in their innings!
This new rule may be harsh on teams at times but it will surely let team captains organize their bowlers effectively. ICC has been in a race to increase the pace of the matches and this new rule seems to be in great effect. Every team knows that this new rule derails the plans of teams at the death and will be forced to bowl all their overs in the scheduled time!
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