ICC tweaks Code of Conduct and DRS Umpire's Call

The International Cricket Council has introduced changes to the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel and the DRS Umpire's Call interpretation on Thursday.

There has been no change to the list of offences in the Code of Conduct, or the current penalty regime of warnings/fines/suspensions applicable to each offence, but players who have breached the Code will now also accumulate Demerit Points, which can see repeat offenders suspended.

Demerit Points will remain with a player for two years, and all players will start with a zero balance from 22 September to coincide with the introduction of these changes.

The new DRS playing conditions relating to the LBW "Umpire's Call" will also come into effect on 22 September.

The first match to be played under these regulations will be the ODI between South Africa and Ireland in Benoni on Sunday.

For a Not Out decision to be overturned, more than half the ball now has to be impacting the pad within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps), and the ball needs to be hitting the stumps within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps and the bottom of the bails (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails).