Image courtesy of: The Express Tribune

The ICC will ban zips on all cricket clothing by 2015

In light of the recent ball tampering scandal involving South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis, the International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced that they will be banning zips on cricket kits by 2015.

Du Plessis pleaded guilty to ball tampering on the third day of the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan in Dubai after being caught rubbing the ball near the zip of his trouser pocket and, as a result, he was subsequently fined 50 per cent of his match fee.

Speaking about the incident, South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee said: “Regarding the issue around zips I’m not sure many of you know that it has been outlawed by the ICC and each country has been given until 2015 to make sure that all their kit especially the trousers don’t have zips on it.

“From the CSA perspective our manufacturers have already begun the process and we will be making sure that we will meet this timeline.”

The ICC’s new rule suggests that they are highly concerned about players using the zips on their clothing to rough up the ball, which is one of the keys needed to achieving reverse swing.