#rule application

ICC Stop-Clock Penalty Mid-Season Review — Fastest-Paced T20 Trial Confirms Effect

The ICC's stop-clock rule, expanded in the May 2026 playing-conditions package to include an automatic 5-run penalty on the third breach in any innings, has had measurable effect across early international T20 fixtures since the rule took effect on 1 May 2026. ICC officials have indicated the rule is producing the over-rate improvement that earlier financial penalties alone had not.