Extra time reserved for rain hit games

The Indian Premier League Technical Committee has changed some important playing conditions with immediate effect. The changes relate to substitutes, decisions on clean catches and time reserved for rain-hit games. But the most important and interesting one relates to the legality of the delivery when the ball hits the new-age sky camera which has been a feature of IPL 2.

Also Read:
IPL Points Table/Updates
Kings XI Punjab
Kolkata Knight Riders
Delhi Daredevils
Rajasthan Royals
Deccan Chargers
Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai Indians
Royal Challengers Bangalore

Substitute fielders will be permitted only in the event of injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons. The panel wants to ensure that substitutions should be limited to extreme circumstances and should not include what is commonly referred to as a ‘comfort breaks’. It is clear that the IPL Technical Committee wants to be firm in such cases.

For long, the usage of TV replays in decision-making has been debated in cricketing circles. But in IPL, the change has already been made. The field umpires have been empowered to consult the third umpire in event of their having doubts about catches.

Should both umpires be unable to make a decision, they may consult by a two-way radio with the third umpire. Following such consultation, the final decision will be made and given by the bowler’s end umpire, who will take into account the on-field umpires’ initial views and any other advice received from the third umpire. This way there will be a lot more clarity and more chances of reducing human error. The third umpire so far has been employed to make calls on line decisions – run out, stumping or for judging boundaries.

Also Read:
IPL Points Table/Updates
Kings XI Punjab
Kolkata Knight Riders
Delhi Daredevils
Rajasthan Royals
Deccan Chargers
Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai Indians
Royal Challengers Bangalore

Another important change in ruling comes about in the case of rain-affected games. Only two games have been washed out. And the new ruling provides for an extra hour for the league games whereas the semifinals and final will have two extra hours to help have a game played. More importantly the final will not have a reserve day.

The IPL Technical Committee has brought further clarity on what may happen in case a Yusuf Pathan or a Andrew Symonds ends up hitting the sky camera or the wires associated with the fly-cam. The ball in such case will be declared a dead-ball and allow another ball would be bowled.

source iplt20 website