Results of Day 1 of the ICC Executive Board to meeting in Hong Kong

The ICC Executive Board began its two-day meeting in Hong Kong today (28 June 2011) and the decisions taken on the first day included:

Formats for ICC global events

The ICC Executive Board today reversed its previous decisions and approved a 14-team format for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to be held in Australia and New Zealand and a 12-team format for the ICC World Twenty20 events in 2012 (Sri Lanka) and 2014 (Bangladesh).

The Board had previously decided in October 2010 that the ICC Cricket World Cup would comprise a 10-team event and that the ICC World Twenty20 events would involve 16 teams. In April 2011, the Board had agreed that only the Full Members would participate in 2015 and that all Members would be given an opportunity to participate in the 2019 World Cup through a qualification process.

In Hong Kong today, the ICC Executive Board opted to retain the 14-team format that was used at the highly successful and universally acclaimed ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka with the 10 Full Members being joined by four Associate or Affiliate qualifiers.

The ICC World Twenty20 in 2012 and 2014 will now remain as 12-team events (10 Full Members and two Associate/Affiliates), which has been the format for the ICC World Twenty20 events since its inception in 2007.

Following a presentation on the Reliance ICC Rankings system by statistician David Kendix, who devised and operates the system on behalf of the ICC, the Executive Board has confirmed that the Reliance ICC Rankings are suitable for use in determining qualification for ICC global events, subject to any regulatory amendments necessary to protect the integrity of the system.

In addition, the Board confirmed that the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 would be a 10-team event with the top eight in the Reliance ICC rankings earning their qualification automatically with the remaining two places being decided by a qualification competition. The Board also confirmed the introduction of the promotion/relegation system previously agreed.

The Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the period 1 May 2012 to 30 April 2020, which was proposed by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) on Monday, was adopted by the ICC Executive Board. It was also agreed that compensation for unequal tours would remain unchanged.

ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) and Cricket Committee recommendations

The Executive Board agreed with the CEC recommendations on the Decision Review Systems (DRS) for Test matches and One-Day Internationals which would set a universal standard, taking into consideration availability and commercial issues, that infra-red cameras and audio-tracking devices should be used. The continued use of ball-tracking technology as a decision-making aid will depend on bilateral agreement between the participating Members.

The Board accepted that there should be no use of DRS in Twenty20 Internationals.

The Board agreed with the CEC and Cricket Committee on the following:

* that a Twenty20 International rankings table should be created from 1 October 2011

* revised formats for One-Day internationals

* the need for further research on the balls to be used in day/night Test cricket

* batsmen should be dismissed (obstructing the field) if they change their course while running to prevent a run-out chance

* the running out of a non-striker who is backing up unfairly

* the prohibition of the use of runners in all forms of international cricket.

Details of those recommendations were issued yesterday and can be found at www.icc-cricket.com. The ICC Executive Board meeting continues in Hong Kong tomorrow (29 June 2011).

Media arrangements

SNTV and Getty Images will distribute vision and images throughout the annual conference week in Hong Kong. There will also be a media opportunity at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong on Thursday 30 June 2011. Further details of the media conference will be released when available.

The ICC Board consists of the chairman or president from each of the 10 Full Members plus three Associate Member representatives. Also present at ICC Board meetings is the ICC President, who chairs proceedings, the ICC Chief Executive and the ICC Vice-President, as well as, by invitation of the President, the ICC Principal Advisor.