According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is doing away with the controversial soft signal rule for international matches.
As per a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC has scrapped the soft signal rule from the playing conditions of international matches. The change is expected to take effect from the World Test Championship Final between India and Australia, starting June 7, 2023.
The soft signal rule was introduced when it was observed that catches were being adjudged as unfair by the television umpire because of inconclusive evidence. However, it soon threw up several controversies, as on-field umpires had to give soft signals for decisions they were not sure about. Since third umpires needed conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field umpire’s soft signal, they would more often than not side with the on-field umpire’s decision.
Last year, during England’s tour of Pakistan, Saud Shakeel of Pakistan was given out after a long review process. The television umpire eventually decided that there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field umpire’s soft signal. The decision was met with discussion and debate, and Pakistan captain Babar Azam claimed that the decision “cost them”.
Saud’s was one of many controversial decisions, decided by the soft signal, that affected the outcomes of games over the last few years.
ICC’s abolition of the soft signal is a welcome change that will allow the third umpires to rely solely on technology for deciding on close calls and not be guided by the on-field umpire’s judgement, which can be unreliable while judging close catches taken far from where they stand.
According to the Cricbuzz report, the cricket committee of the ICC, headed by Sourav Ganguly, has approved the rule change and has conveyed the same to India and Australia, the two finalists of the World Test Championship.
The World Test Championship Final starts on June 7 at The Oval.
