The television umpire can turn down an appeal for caught behind, if replays show there was no contact between bat and ball, under rules and regulations adopted for the upcoming cricket World Cup.

Among other interesting regulations for the March 13-April 28 tournament in the West Indies is the provision for moving matches in case of a dangerous pitch, continuing a match even under drizzle in certain situations, bowl-outs to break a tie, and empowering the Match Referee to suggest suspension of play for security concerns.

The relevant portion about the clause on clean catches states: "The third umpire has to determine whether the batsman has been caught. However, when reviewing TV replay(s) if it is clear to the third umpire that the batsman did not hit the ball, he shall indicate that the batsman is not out."

This applies to decisions on whether a catch was taken from a bump ball or not.

Similarly, under earlier rules, umpires could only abandon a match if the wicket became dangerous for play.

The ICC has introduced a five-stage system to break a tie on points between two or more teams in the preliminary and Super 8 stages, and a two-stage system for the semi-finals and final, including bowl-outs.

On the subject of suspension of play because of adverse condition of the ground, weather or light, the regulations for the Cup state that if conditions during rain-stoppage improve and the rain is reduced to a drizzle the "umpires must consider if they would have suspended play in the first place under similar conditions".

"If both on-field umpires agree that the current drizzle would not have caused a stoppage, then play shall resume immediately. In these circumstances the provisions of (cricket's) Law 3.9 (b) and 3.9 (c) (i) shall not apply."

A clause has been added to regular Law 3.10 concerning exceptional circumstances.

"Play may be suspended due to safety and security concerns by the umpires on the advice of the ICC Match Referee, the head of the relevant ground authority, the head of ground security or police.

"The decision to abandon or resume play shall be the responsibility of the ICC Match Referee who shall act only after consultation with the head of ground security and the police."

Law 7.4 dealing with changing the pitch has been altered a bit for the tournament so that it has been left to the two rival captains to agree upon continuing a match on a track which is considered as too dangerous for play or opt to play after it's repaired or prefer to play on an alternative pitch.

"In the event of a pitch being considered too dangerous for play to continue in the estimation of the on-field umpires, they shall stop play and immediately advice the ICC Match Referee.

"The on-field umpires and the ICC Match Referee shall consult both the teams' captains and if the captains agree to continue, play shall resume," the Cup playing conditions say.

"If the decision is not to resume play, the on-field umpires shall consider in consultation with the tournament Technical Committee one of the options in the following sequence:

a. Whether the existing pitch can be repaired. Repair work can be considered only if there has been malicious damage to a non-crucial part of the pitch (and match is to be continued from the point at which it was stopped).

b. Whether the alternative pitch can be used (and match to be resumed from first ball).

c. Whether the match has to be abandoned."

The tournament's Technical Committee will decide whether the match can be replayed within the existing schedule which has provided for a reserve day for all the matches, but there are no provisions for artificial lights to be used when needed.

Teams qualifying for the Super 8 stage will carry forward only the points gained against the second qualifier from their group but will not play against the same opponent again at this stage while taking on the other six entrants.

Two points would be awarded for a win, none for a loss and one each for a no result at the preliminary and Super 8 stages of the competition.

In case of a tie on points the deadlock would be broken progressively as follows:

Premiliminary Group stage:

1. Team with most wins will be placed higher.

2. If tie persists then the team with higher net run rate in group stage will be placed higher.

3. If tie persists, the team with the higher number of wickets taken per balls bowled will be placed higher.

4. If tie persists, the winner of the head to head match played between them will be placed higher.

5. If tie persists, draw of lots will be resorted to.

Super 8 stage (to determine semi-finalists):

1. The most wins in all the matches throughout the competition against other Super 8 qualifiers.

2. If tie persists, team (s) with higher net run rate in all matches played against the other Super 8 qualifiers throughout the competition will be placed higher.

3. If tie persists, team (s) with higher number of wickets taken per balls bolwed in all matches throughout the competition against all Super 8 qualifiers will be placed higher.

4. If tie persists, the winner of the head to head match played between them will be placed higher.

5. If tie persists, draw of lots will be resorted to.

For the semis, in case of a tied match the Bowl-out will be resorted to and after a no result match teams with the higher NRR in the Super 8 series would proceed to the final and if tie persists, deadlock will be broken by draw of lots.

In case the final is tied, there will be a Bowl-out, but if the match ends in no result both teams will be declared as joint champions.