No zips on cricket kit by 2015

It has been revealed that zips were due to be banned from international cricket kit before the ball-tampering controversy surrounding Faf du Plessis emerged during the Dubai Test against Pakistan.

Du Plessis pleaded guilty to a charge of changing the condition of the ball and was fined 50% of his match fee following the incident on the third day when he was caught shining the ball around the zipped pocket of his whites.

After the Test finished, Mohammad Moosajee, the team manager 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 stance suggests that there has been concern about the use of the zips in roughing up one side of the ball, which is a key part in being able to extract reverse swing.

Law 42.3a(i) regarding fair and unfair play and the condition of the match ball says: "Any fielder may polish the ball provided that no artificial substance is used and that such polishing wastes no time."