Cricket rule should be revisited

Dear Editor,

 

The Zimbabwean team is the first international cricket team to visit Pakistan in six years. After two one-day games Zimbabwe’s captain and most exciting player has been suspended for two games because his team’s overs-rate was too slow in the last game, which, incidentally Zimbabwe lost.

Zimbabwe is therefore weakened and Pakistani fans are deprived. Since there are other equally effective sanctions available for such an infringement of the rule, may I suggest that this rule be re-visited.

Until the rule is changed it behooves coaches to play closer attention to this issue before and especially during the game, and also to delegate one or two senior players specifically to help captains deal with it.

In addition umpires ought to be asked to remind captains periodically, starting fairly early in the game, to watch the clock.

 

Yours faithfully,
Romain Pitt