The Soft Signal Rule in cricket is finally going to end. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to abolish this rule from international matches. The special thing is that this rule will not be applicable in the World Test Championship (World Test Championship: WTC) starting from 7th June. The WTC final will be held between India and Australia at the Oval ground in London.
It is believed that this decision has been approved by Sourav Ganguly. Who is the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee. At the same time, the information about the decision to end the soft signal has been given to both the finalists of WTC, India and Australia. This news has come to the fore by quoting ‘Cricbuzz’.
If there is a bad light then the flood lights will be on
At the same time, in the news of ‘Cricbuzz’, it has also been informed that if the condition of natural light in the ground is bad in the WTC final between India and Australia, then floodlight can be turned on. However, there is a reserve day (sixth day) for this match.
Controversy has happened many times regarding the soft signal rule
Many veterans of cricket have already raised questions regarding the soft signal rule. At the same time, many former and current players had advocated to end this. Many experts said that the soft signal rule should be removed and the third umpire should decide in this regard, as they are equipped with modern technology. England’s Test team captain Ben Stokes also raised questions about this controversial rule earlier this year.
In fact, during the Test series between Australia and South Africa, the Kangaroo team batsman Marnus Labushen was given out as a soft signal. But, the catch caught in the slip looked suspicious. After this, it started being argued that when the umpire finds a catch disputed, why was it not referred to the third umpire?
Actually, because of this rule, Stokes’ team had benefited in a Test match played against Pakistan last year. Pakistan batsman Saud Shakeel was given out by the umpires as a soft signal.
What is soft signal rule
According to International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, a soft signal is a visual communication from the umpire standing at the bowling end to the third umpire. In which the on-field umpire gives his decision, then takes the umpire’s review (third umpire review) on the same decision.
It is further explained in this rule- In this, onfield umpires (umpires on the field) can take the help of third umpire. But the umpire standing at the end of the first bowling consults his decision with the second umpire. After this, under the soft signal rule, he talks to the third umpire. In this, the third umpire sees the video footage in the context of that out.
This can be understood with an example, like a batsman is caught out by the on-field umpire, but this catch is doubtful. In this catch, even in the video footage, the third umpire does not find enough evidence in the footage, then the decision of the onfield umpires remains universal.
Now the way the change has taken place regarding the soft signal rule, the third umpire will have the final right to decide on suspicious catches. By the way, before Ben Stokes regarding the soft signal, the BCCI raised the question in the 2021 ICC Forum.
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