ICC Suspends Cricket Canada, Approves Pink-Ball Trial at Board Meeting The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Cricket Canada’s membership with immediate effect following allegations of "serious breaches" of its obligations, according to a statement released during the ICC Board meeting in Ahmedabad on May 31. The decision was part of a broader set of resolutions aimed at addressing governance, administrative reforms, and evolving playing conditions in international cricket. While the suspension was imposed, the ICC confirmed that Canadian national teams would continue to participate in ICC events and receive funding through a controlled mechanism to avoid adverse impacts on players. Cricket Canada was also given a set of reinstatement conditions to address governance and administrative shortcomings, with progress monitored by the ICC’s Normalisation Committee. A key decision at the meeting was the approval of a trial for using pink balls in conventional Test matches under specific conditions. The proposal allows teams to switch from traditional red balls to pink balls during Tests when poor light is anticipated, aiming to reduce delays caused by visibility issues. The ICC emphasized that both participating teams must agree to the switch, and the move follows earlier reports by Cricbuzz about the proposal. The ICC also confirmed plans to collaborate with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on research into lighting technology to further minimize interruptions from poor weather conditions. The board also approved the establishment of a Global Qualifier for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, tasked with finalizing the competition structure and qualification pathway for a 16-team qualifier.#icc #ahmedabad #mcc #cricket_canada #cricket_canada_suspension
Fraser Stewart: MCC’s Head of Cricket Calls Out IPL’s Slow Over-Rate Problem The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) has faced mounting criticism for its slow over-rates, with matches stretching far beyond their scheduled durations. A recent match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12 exemplified the issue, lasting nearly four and a half hours—among the longest in IPL history. Despite no weather interruptions, the game concluded close to midnight, with RCB securing an 18-run victory. MI skipper Hardik Pandya became the fourth captain this season to face a fine for slow over-rate violations, yet penalties appear to have little impact on curbing the trend. The problem has now drawn attention from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the game’s governing body. Fraser Stewart, MCC’s head of cricket, highlighted the systemic nature of the issue during a press conference on Tuesday. “What struck us was the pace—how slow it was, with so many stoppages,” Stewart said. He drew a contrast with The Hundred, a T20 competition where a 60-second clock starts after a wicket falls, and the batting team risks five penalty runs if the next batter isn’t ready. Stewart acknowledged the challenges of high temperatures and the need for players to take drinks, but emphasized that the frequency of interruptions—such as frequent breaks for advertisements—undermined the flow of the game. Stewart pointed to structural reasons behind the slowdown, including umpires prioritizing commercial breaks over maintaining a brisk pace. “The umpires were letting it be slow,” he said. “When every break is an advertising opportunity for the billions watching, it’s understandable why they’re reluctant to enforce urgency.#indian_premier_league #royal_challengers_bengaluru #mcc #mumbai_indians #fraser_stewart
Dead ball! Umpire calls Sri Lankan spinner's action illegal after copying Usman Tariq's controversial bowling technique A Sri Lankan spinner faced immediate action from an umpire during a school cricket match after attempting to replicate the bowling action of Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, which has sparked widespread debate in cricket circles. The incident occurred during the 121st edition of a traditional inter-school fixture, a longstanding event in Sri Lanka. The bowler, representing Richmond College, paused in his run-up and added exaggerated jumps before delivering a full toss, prompting the umpire to declare the ball dead. Under the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws, specifically Clause 41.4, an umpire has the authority to call a dead ball if they suspect a deliberate attempt to distract a batter. The rule states that if such an act is observed, the umpire must immediately signal the dead ball and inform the other umpire of the reason. In this case, the umpire opted for a warning rather than imposing a penalty of five runs, which could have been awarded under the law. The umpire’s decision was based on the fact that the pause in the Sri Lankan bowler’s action was not part of his regular technique, suggesting an intentional effort to disrupt the batter. In contrast, Tariq’s pause has been deemed a natural part of his bowling action, even though it has drawn scrutiny for its distinctiveness. Tariq’s method, which involves a visible halt before releasing the ball, has been a topic of discussion since the T20 World Cup, where he performed inconsistently, with figures of 1/24 against India and 4/16 against Namibia. The incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding bowling actions in cricket, particularly the line between legal technique and potential illegal deliveries.#t20_world_cup #usman_tariq #mcc #richmond_college #school_cricket_match
MCC Clarifies Salman Ali Agha's Dismissal Was Legal Under Cricket Laws The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has officially confirmed that the controversial run-out dismissal of Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha during the second ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dhaka was correctly applied under the Laws of Cricket. The incident, which sparked widespread debate, involved a collision between Agha and Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz during a fielding attempt. The MCC’s statement emphasized that the decision to dismiss Agha was lawful and that the fielding side had the option to withdraw the appeal in line with the Spirit of Cricket. The dismissal occurred when Miraz attempted to field a shot played by Mohammad Rizwan. As Miraz moved to collect the ball, he collided with Agha, who had positioned himself at the non-striker’s end. Agha bent down as if to retrieve the ball, assuming play had stopped, but Miraz quickly gathered the ball and deflected it onto the stumps while Agha remained outside his crease. The Pakistan captain was subsequently dismissed. After the match, Agha expressed regret over the incident, stating he would have chosen a more sportsmanlike approach if he had been the fielder. In its statement, the MCC clarified that the non-striker was clearly out of his ground when the wicket was broken, and the ball remained in play. “Under the Laws, there is little that either umpire could have done differently,” the MCC said. The club also highlighted that Agha had put himself at greater risk by attempting to handle the ball without consulting the fielding side. “No batter should attempt to pick up the ball without the consent of the fielding side, as this could lead to an Obstructing the Field dismissal,” the statement added.#pakistan #bangladesh #mehidy_hasan_miraz #mcc #salman_ali_aghaz
Salman Ali Agha runout row: Should umpires have called dead ball? MCC settles debate The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of cricket’s laws, has resolved a contentious debate over a controversial run-out dismissal during a Bangladesh vs Pakistan One-Day International (ODI) match. The incident, which sparked widespread discussion among players, officials, and fans, occurred when Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha was dismissed in a rare and disputed manner. The MCC clarified that the decision was lawful under the established rules of cricket. The run-out happened during the second ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. In the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings, Agha and Mohammad Rizwan were in a strong partnership, having added 109 runs for the fourth wicket after Pakistan lost three early wickets. On the fourth delivery of the over, bowled by Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rizwan played a gentle push down the ground. The ball rolled toward Agha, who was positioned outside his crease at the non-striker’s end. As the ball made contact with his pads, Agha bent down to pick it up. Miraz quickly collected the ball and broke the stumps while Agha was still outside the crease, appealing for a run-out. The on-field umpire upheld the appeal, and the third umpire confirmed the dismissal in favor of Bangladesh. Agha, visibly frustrated, walked back to the pavilion, expressing his displeasure with the decision. The incident raised questions about whether the ball should have been declared dead, as some suggested the collision between Agha and Miraz might have rendered the ball out of play. However, the MCC stated that the ball remained in play under the Laws of Cricket.#sher_e_bangla_national_cricket_stadium #mehidy_hasan_miraz #mcc #salman_ali_aghaz #bangladesh_pakistan_odi
NEET SS Counselling 2026 Round 1 Registration LIVE: Last Date March 15, Choice Filling Starts Today — Complete Guide for DM & MCh Aspirants The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has launched the NEET SS Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration process, with the final deadline set for March 15, 2026. Candidates who cleared the NEET SS 2025 exam are now required to complete their registration and choice filling to secure admission to post-doctoral super speciality programs such as DM, MCh, and DrNB. The choice filling window opens on March 11 and closes on March 16, marking critical dates for aspiring medical professionals. NEET SS counselling is the centralized process for allocating 100% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in super speciality courses at premier medical institutions like AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, and CMC Vellore. Over 34,551 candidates who passed the NEET SS 2025 exam are eligible to participate. The counselling process determines admission to highly competitive specialties such as Neurology, Cardiology, and Neurosurgery, which are among the most sought-after in Indian medicine. The MCC has released a detailed schedule for Round 1, emphasizing strict adherence to deadlines. Registration for Round 1 opens on March 10 and closes on March 15. Choice filling begins on March 11 and must be completed by March 16 at 11:55 PM. Round 2 registration is scheduled for March 26–27, with the academic session for the 2026 super speciality courses starting on April 10. The MCC has instructed institutions to treat weekends and public holidays as working days, ensuring no extensions to deadlines. To register, candidates must visit the MCC website (mcc.nic.in), log in using their NEET SS roll number and password, and fill in personal details such as name, date of birth, and contact information.#aiims #mcc #neet_ss_counselling_2026 #pgi_chandigarh #cmc_vellore
