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ICC announces new powerplay rule for shortened T20Is. (Photo Source - Getty Images)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a new powerplay rule in shortened T20Is that will come into effect from July 10, 2025. The new adjusted rule sees a more accurate calculation of PowerPlay overs when the innings is reduced due to weather or other interruptions. Traditionally, the first six overs of a 20-over innings are chosen as the PowerPlay, during which only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. This six-over period accounts for approximately 30% of the innings.

However, when matches are shortened to 8 or 9 overs, the PowerPlay overs were previously rounded off to the nearest full over, which sometimes disturbed the balance of the game. An 8-over match earlier had just two overs of PowerPlay, which accounts for only 25%.

This difference led the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee to reflect on the rule. The newly introduced system will now calculate PowerPlay overs by rounding off to the nearest ball, not the nearest over, keeping the powerplay duration closer to the ideal 30% of the total overs. Under the new rule, an eight-over innings will now have 2.2 overs of PowerPlay, while a nine-over innings will feature 2.4 overs. 

In an 8-over innings, the umpire will signal the end of the PowerPlay after two balls of the third over, which will allow three more fielders to move outside the 30-yard circle.

"This table has been used in the T20 Blast in England for many years, where ending a powerplay midway through an over has caused no difficulty for players or officials. It has now been accepted by the ICC Men's Cricket Committee as the preferred method moving forward. In the 8-over example above, the umpire will make the signal after 2 balls of the 3rd over, at which point three further fielders are able to drop back from within the circle," the ICC told the members as quoted by Cricbuzz.