The International Cricket Council (ICC) made a groundbreaking announcement today, declaring equal prize money for both men’s and women’s teams participating in ICC events. This landmark decision was reached during the ICC Annual Conference held in Durban, South Africa, showcasing the ICC Board’s unwavering commitment to achieving prize money equality by 2030, well ahead of schedule. Under the new arrangement, teams will receive identical prize money for equivalent finishing positions and match victories at comparable events.

ICC Chair Greg Barclay expressed his delight, stating, “This is a momentous occasion in the history of our sport, as men’s and women’s cricketers competing at ICC global events will now be rewarded equally.” He further emphasized that since 2017, there has been a consistent increase in prize money for women’s events, with a clear focus on attaining parity. Going forward, winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, as well as T20 World Cups and U19 tournaments, will carry the same prize money as their respective men’s counterparts. This decision by the ICC Board underscores cricket as a sport that truly embraces inclusivity, celebrating and valuing the contributions of every player equally.

In addition to this groundbreaking announcement, the ICC Board has also approved the largest-ever investment in the sport, following the agreement on the distribution model for the next four years. This significant funding boost will be allocated to all ICC Members, ensuring enhanced financial support. Moreover, a strategic investment fund has been established to drive global growth initiatives in alignment with the ICC Global Growth Strategy.

ICC Chair Greg Barclay expressed his satisfaction, stating, “The success of our media rights and commercial program for the upcoming four-year cycle allows us to invest more money than ever before in our sport.” He further explained that each member will receive a base distribution, with additional revenue tied to their contributions to the global game, both on and off the field. This substantial investment represents an unprecedented opportunity for ICC Members to expedite growth, engage more players and fans, and foster competitiveness. The board’s commitment to establishing a strategic investment fund will further accelerate the realization of the ICC’s Global Growth Strategy.

The ICC Board also greenlit changes to the ICC Sanctioning Regulations, aimed at assisting all members in creating sustainable revenue streams and developing the game, while upholding the integrity of cricket and the welfare of its participants. Going forward, newly sanctioned events will be required to include a minimum of seven local or Associate Member players in each team’s playing XI, fostering the game’s development. Additionally, an organizing Member will be obligated to pay a solidarity fee to the Home Board of a player, acknowledging the Member’s role in nurturing and promoting the sport on a global scale.

Moreover, the Chief Executives’ Committee approved modifications to over-rate sanctions in Test cricket, ensuring a balance between maintaining over-rates and fair remuneration for players. Under the revised regulations, players will be fined 5% of their match fee for each over short, up to a maximum of 50%. However, if a team is bowled out before the new ball is due at 80 overs, no over-rate penalty will be applied, even if the over-rate is slow. This new threshold replaces the previous 60-over limit.

Sourav Ganguly, Chair of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee, expressed his perspective on the matter, saying, “The ICC World Test Championship has injected renewed energy into Test cricket by providing compelling context. In the last edition, we witnessed only 12 draws out of 69 matches, and we aim to maintain this trend while offering fans the best value for their money and ensuring over-rates are upheld.” Ganguly further clarified that the Men’s Cricket Committee believed in retaining over-rate penalties in the form of World Test Championship points deductions but recommended reducing the risk of players losing their entire match fee. This adjustment strikes a balance between maintaining over-rates and encouraging players to participate in Test cricket.

It’s important to note that this amendment will be applied retrospectively, starting from the beginning of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.

On Monday, the International Cricket Council’s chief executives’ committee declared that the controversial “soft signal” regulation is being eliminated and that helmets are now mandatory for wicketkeepers who stand close to the stumps. The adjustments, which have been approved, will be put into practice on June 1, beginning with the Lord’s Test match between England and Ireland.

As per the ICC, “Umpires will not be obliged to provide a soft signal when consulting the TV umpires about decisions” anymore.

On Monday, cricket authorities announced that they are scrapping the controversial “soft signal” rule and requiring wicketkeepers standing close to the stumps to wear helmets. The International Cricket Council chief executives’ committee approved the changes, which will take effect on June 1st, during the Lord’s Test between England and Ireland. The ICC said in a statement, “The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken.” A soft signal is the initial verdict of an on-field umpire before the input of the third umpire, who has access to video replays. One concern was that the soft signal might influence the final decision of the third umpire.

Ben Stokes, England’s captain, called for the scrapping of soft signals earlier this year. Under the new ICC regulations, high-risk positions in international cricket, such as batters facing fast bowlers and wicketkeepers standing up to the stumps, must wear helmet protection.

Sourav Ganguly, chairman of the ICC cricket committee, said that soft signals were unnecessary and sometimes confusing and that player safety was essential. The committee deliberated on this for a long time and decided that it was best to make helmets mandatory in certain positions to ensure the safety of players.

Shakib Al Hasan, the poster boy of Bangladesh, sometimes comes under criticism. Last year, Juar came under criticism for signing a deal with a gambling company. But this time the ICC itself, the governing body of cricket, showed flexibility on gambling. Last month, the International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai made a new decision on gambling. In that meeting, the executive committee said that from now on, gambling advertisements could be used on cricketers’ jerseys and on the field in bilateral games. News American magazine Forber. However, gambling ads will be banned in the World Cup or Champions Trophy.

Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided not to advertise gambling in bilateral and domestic games. Like the ECB, gambling advertising may be banned in Bangladesh. Because gambling is considered illegal under the laws of this country. However, even if gambling advertisements or logos are not used on cricketers’ jerseys, gambling advertisements are often seen on TV.

India opener Shubman Gill had a great January. As his reward, he was included in the list of 3 people of ICC Massera. Another national team star, Mohammad Siraj, is fighting with him. The other of the three is Devon Conway of New Zealand.

Gill scored 58 runs in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka last month. However, in the next three-match ODI series, he scored 70, 21, and 116 runs respectively. In the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, Gill scored 208, 40 not, out, and 112 respectively.

However, in January, he did not score more than 18 runs in the first 2 T20Is against New Zealand. On the other hand, Mohammad Siraj took 9 wickets in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in January. Later he took 5 wickets in 2 ODIs against New Zealand. And Devon Conway came to bat in 10 international innings across three formats in January. A Ki scored 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries. Devon scored 122 runs in the first innings of the last Test of the series against Pakistan. Conway scored 101 and 52 runs in the second and third ODIs of the series against Pakistan respectively. His 138 runs came from the bat in the third ODI of the series against India. Later, Conway scored 52 runs in the first T20 match of the series against India.

Meanwhile, two Aussie stars Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield are in the running for the women’s cricketer of the month award. England Under-19 Women’s Cricket Team Captain Grace Cravens will give them a tough challenge.

South African pace bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen has been named the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2022. Cricket’s governing body confirmed the news in a press release on Thursday (January 26). Indian fast bowler Renuka Singh has been named the best rising star in women’s cricket.

The ICC is awarding the best stars of 2022 one by one. After the T20, Test, and ODI teams, this time the announcement of personal rewards is going on. In that series, Proteas all-rounder Marco Jansen won the title of the best-emerging cricketer of 2022.

The 22-year-old pacer stunned everyone with his appearance. Not one or two series, but he was a great series throughout the season. On the way to winning the title of the year, he left behind three young stars. India’s Arshdeep Singh, New Zealand’s Finn Allen, and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran have trailed in the race with him.

Marco stepped into the world of cricket with the Boxing Day Test in 2021. After that, he played a total of 8 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 1 T20 match in 2022. Where he has shown his Munsiana more than red. He took 36 wickets in 8 matches. In Australia, New Zealand, and England, Jansen averaged 19.00.02. The bat also speaks to him at the same speed. He has 234 runs at 22 averages. His number of wickets in ODIs in 2022 is 2 and one in T20Is.

In the eyes of the ICC, Jancen’s best performance of the year was the Oval Test against England. Although the team was bundled out for 118 runs, the pacer scored the highest 30 runs there. Later, he did his real job with the ball. He took 5 wickets for 35 runs. England was bowled out for 158 runs.

2022 has been a great year for Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Especially in ODI cricket, one match-winning inning after another, and all the eye-catching shots have impressed the crickets. Pakistan’s batting backbone has been awarded the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award.

Babar Azam has scored runs in ODI cricket in 2022. Babar scored 679 runs at an average of 84.87 with 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries. After such a performance, the ICC, the governing body of cricket, did not have to think twice to choose him as the best player in ODIs.

This is the second time in a row that he has won the award for the best player of 50-over cricket.

Babar played a total of 9 ODIs for Pakistan in 2022. Of these, the top batsman in the ODI rankings has scored at least 50 runs in 8. He has crossed the century mark in three. And out of the remaining 6 innings, he scored a half-century in five. Only he could not score runs against the West Indies in Multan. Babar was dismissed for just 1 run in that match.

Babar had earlier won the ODI Cricketer of the Year award in 2021. That year, however, he got a chance to play a total of 6 ODIs. He scored 405 runs in 6 matches at an average of 67.50. In addition to 2 centuries, he scored 1 half-century.

In 2022, Pakistan has shown great skill by riding on Babar’s bat. They lost one match in total. Babar also played innings of 57 runs in the 88-run loss against Australia in Lahore.

Shakib has performed well with the bat and ball in the first match of the ongoing ODI series against India. Shakib returned to India’s star five batsmen after spending only 36 runs in 10 overs with the ball.

In the face of the bowling of Shakib and pacer Ebadat Hossain, the batting strong team Bharat was all out for 186 runs. Shakib scored the third-highest 29 runs in the team’s victory in the chase of the target. Shakib showed all-around skills in Bangladesh’s historic win against India.

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said, “Shakib is unbelievable at the end of the day. I have coached in South Africa for a long time. Eight years after Jacques Kallis retired, I think they are still looking for an alternative. They can be sure whether they will play six batters or seven. Will you play an extra bowler or a batter?