ICC announces new helmet regulations to ensure highest safety standards

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the introduction of new regulations that make it compulsory for batsmen to wear helmets which adhere to the highest safety standards when electing to wear a helmet in men's and women's international matches.

The new regulations, which have been incorporated in the ICC Clothing and Equipment Regulations effective January 1, 2017, do not make it compulsory to wear a helmet when batting, but when a batsman elects to wear a helmet it must be compliant with the new British Standard BS7928:2013.

The regulations will be strictly enforced in international cricket from February 1, 2017.

Sanctions will be applied to batsmen who wear non-compliant helmets after February 1. An official warning will be issued after each of the first two matches in which a non-compliant helmet is worn, and if there is a third breach of the regulations the player will be suspended for one-match.

ICC's General Manager Cricket, Geoff Allardice, said that the aim is to get all players to wear the safest helmets available.

"Our number one priority is to have all batsmen wearing the safest helmets available rather than to see players sanctioned. It has been pleasing to see that the vast majority of international players have been wearing compliant helmets since 1 January, but some teams have requested more time to assist them in implementing the new regulation before the sanctioning process commences."

"As such, the extension was granted to enable all teams and players to comply, and after this time the regulations will be strictly enforced," Allardice said.

The regulations were introduced following a strong recommendation by the ICC Cricket Committee from their most recent meeting in June 2016.

In June last year, the ICC's cricket committee had recommended that the British Safety Standard helmets be mandatory in international cricket.