The ICC Cricket Committee has given its recommendations for how cricket should change to cope with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting non-neutral umpires should be allowed to stand in all international matches.

The committee, chaired by former India captain Anil Kumble, gave the advice after a conference call held to address the specific issues raised by the spread of the novel coronavirus. The recommendations will be presented to the ICC’s Chief Executive Committee for approval in early June.

Currently, local umpires are only allowed to stand as fourth umpire in Tests, and as one of the on-field umpires and the fourth umpire in ODIs. In T20Is, there is currently no restriction on where umpires are allowed to be from. However, given the challenges of international travel, with restrictions placed on commercial flights and mandatory quarantines in place to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, the committee have recommended that local match officials be appointed in the short term.

The appointments will continue to be made from the local elite and international panel referees and umpires. Where there are no elite panel match officials in the country, the best local international panel match officials will be appointed. To support the wider pool of umpires, the committee has recommended an additional DRS review be allowed per team per innings in each format.

“We are living through extraordinary times and the recommendations the committee have made today are interim measures to enable us to safely resume cricket in a way that preserves the essence of our game whilst protecting everyone involved,” said Kumble