South African cricket legend and former captain Shaun Pollock has revealed that the ICC Cricket Committee is working on providing bowlers with more leniency on wides, as the current rules are too strict, especially when batsmen move at the last moment. In ODIs and T20s, batsmen often disrupt the bowler’s line and length by moving late in the crease, leading to balls being called wide.
Pollock is Part of the ICC Cricket Committee
Pollock stated, “I am part of the ICC Cricket Committee, and we are considering giving bowlers more freedom regarding wide balls. I feel the current rules are too harsh on bowlers. If a batsman moves at the last moment, it is not an ideal situation for the bowler. A bowler needs to know at the start of their run-up where they can bowl.”
Pollock Explained the Current Rule
Pollock elaborated, “As per the current rules, if a batsman changes their position just before the bowler releases the ball, it is often called a wide. I would like to see some changes to this rule.” The 51-year-old former all-rounder added that bowlers should have clarity during their run-up about where they need to bowl.
Pollock’s Expectation from Bowlers
He further said, “A bowler should know during their run-up when, why, and how they need to deliver a ball. How can you expect a bowler to change their strategy at the last second while delivering the ball? They need clarity beforehand about their target area. This is the key aspect we are discussing.”
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Pollock’s Statement on the Champions Trophy
Speaking about the upcoming Champions Trophy, Pollock mentioned that South Africa should leverage their players’ experience in subcontinental conditions. He said, “Most of the players in our squad were part of the 2023 ODI World Cup, where we reached the semifinals but lost to Australia.”
On the World Test Championship Final
Pollock also highlighted South Africa’s strong position in Test cricket. “Our team includes several players familiar with subcontinental conditions through their IPL experience, which could benefit us. We have qualified for the World Test Championship final, and I hope some young players will emerge to strengthen our Test cricket further,” he added.