Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
IPL teams are now mandatorily required to finish an inning by 90 minutes, as per the new BCCI guidelines. The Board has even released the penalty for slow over rates. If first-time guilty, the captain of the team will be fined INR 12 Lakhs, for the second time the fine will be doubled to INR 24 lakhs. Third time offence will lead to captain being not only being fined INR 30 lakhs but also receiving a one match ban. However, that's not all, as different penalties have been specified for the team members, too.
New rules for IPL 2021
Among other rule changes, the soft signal will no longer come into play in the IPL. This implies that the final decision will be based on the discretion of the third umpire alone who will have the technology available to him to make his decision. However, amid all sorts of discussion regarding the umpire's call rule, the same will continue to be used in the T20 tournament. In addition, the third umpire has now been given the right to overturn the original decision given by the on-field umpire regarding a short run.
90 minutes per innings, measure to control match timings: BCCI
However, the major rule which will impact all the matches of the tournament has to be the 90 minutes per inning rule. Notably, the given time also includes the two strategic time-outs of two and half minutes each.
"As a measure to control the match timings, the 20th over in each innings is now included in 90 minutes, earlier the 20th over was to start on or before the 90th minute. The minimum over rate to be achieved in IPL matches shall be 14.11 overs per hour (ignoring the time taken by time-outs)," a BCCI rule was quoted by Cricbuzz.
Team members to be fined as well
In addition to the fine and penalty imposed on the captain of the side, the teams will be fined as well. For the second offence of slow over rate, each member of the team will be fined a sum of INR 6 Lakhs or 25% of the match fee, whichever is lesser. Notably, this will not include the fine being imposed on the skipper. However, if the team repeats the same offence for the third time, each member of the team will be fined a sum of INR 12 Lakhs or 50% of the match fee, whichever is lesser, excluding the fine on the captain.