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2w ago

ICC Approves Trial to Switch From Red to Pink Ball in Test Matches

The board says the trial will let teams use a pink ball under floodlights to protect scheduled overs when fading light threatens play.

The ICC have released a summary of recommendations from their most recent board meeting in Ahmedabad. Here are five key takeaways from the meeting.
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Overview

  • The ICC Board in Ahmedabad approved the trial on Monday, June 1, 2026, allowing teams that agree before a match or series to start with a red ball and switch to a pink ball under floodlights if bad light risks losing overs.
  • Umpires will be authorised to use Hawk-Eye data when assessing suspected illegal bowling actions and the ICC will co-fund research with the MCC into lighting technology for venues and officials to reduce stoppages.
  • Playing-condition changes include formal coach access at scheduled drinks intervals, a mandatory 15-minute T20I interval, and the permanent adoption of the leg-side wides trial with additional MCC law amendments set to take effect on 1 October 2026.
  • The Board took governance and calendar steps by immediately suspending Cricket Canada, moving the Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February 14–28 in Sri Lanka, approving a Women’s Emerging Nations pilot, and forming a committee to study alignment of franchise leagues with the international calendar.
  • The pink-ball switch is voluntary and operational details remain to be worked out, and the move could face resistance because the pink ball behaves differently to a red ball and may change how matches play under twilight lighting.