Batsmen try different shots to increase the thrill of T20 cricket. Bowlers discover new types of mystery balls. Along with this, the cricket managers also implement some new rules from time to time. One such rule will be seen in the next season of the Indian Premier League.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is soon going to introduce a football-like substitution rule in its T20 tournament. It will begin with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament in late September, after which it could be launched in IPL 2023.
A media report said that the Indian board is going to introduce the ‘Impact Player’ rule to make the T20 matches more exciting, thrilling and exciting in terms of tactics for the spectators and the teams. Under this, during any match, both the teams will be given an opportunity to replace any one player from the playing eleven as per their strategy and requirement. Teams can use it or leave it if they want.
According to the report, the BCCI wants to introduce this rule in all its domestic T20 tournaments, with the biggest tournament being the IPL, whose 2023 season will begin in April. However, before implementing it in the IPL, the Indian board wants to trial it in state-level tournaments and will do so first with the country’s main domestic T20 tournament, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The Mushtaq Ali Trophy will start from October 11 and the board has written to all state associations informing them about the introduction of this rule and its application.
Under this rule, each team has to name 4 more players along with the playing eleven. All these names will be announced at the time of toss. After the start of the match, the team can include any one of these 4 players in the playing eleven. Also, this change has to be done before the 14th over of the innings. Once an Impact Player Substitution is implemented, the outgoing player cannot be part of the game in any form (Injury Substitution).
No substitute shall be taken in the middle of an over (except for injury) but may be made after an over or after the completion of the innings. If the fielding team wants to bring in a bowler, they can do so. Under this, if the outgoing player has not bowled more than one over, the incoming player as an ‘Impact Player’ will be allowed to complete 4 overs.