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The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is gearing up for an exhilarating 2023 edition, set to kick off on August 16 with a clash between St Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs. As fans eagerly await the excitement and drama that this year’s tournament promises, a new rule is poised to add an intriguing dimension to the proceedings.
In a bid to further enhance the dynamics of the CPL and ensure the pace of the game remains brisk, a significant change has been introduced to both the men’s and women’s editions of the tournament. The CPL has announced the implementation of a red-card-like system as part of penalties for slow over rates.
According to the new rule, if the fielding side falls behind the specified over rate at the commencement of the 20th over of an innings, a player will be required to leave the field. The over-by-over timeframes are meticulously defined: the 17th over must conclude within 72 minutes and 15 seconds, the 18th over within 76 minutes and 30 seconds, the 19th over within 80 minutes and 45 seconds, and the final over within 85 minutes.
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As the innings progresses, the penalties become progressively more stringent. If the fielding side lags behind the required over rate at the start of the 18th over, an additional player must enter the fielding circle, increasing the number of players within the circle to five. Subsequently, if the over rate is not met at the beginning of the 19th over, two more fielders must be stationed inside the circle, bringing the total to six.
Batting sides also under scrutiny
The most significant repercussion occurs if the fielding side remains behind the required over rate as the 20th over begins. At this juncture, the captain must select one player to leave the field, leaving six players within the fielding circle. This provision aims to keep the fielding team accountable for maintaining the pace of the game.
While the focus of the red-card rule primarily revolves around the fielding side, penalties have also been introduced for the batting teams. Batters will receive a warning from the umpires for time-wasting, and subsequent violations will result in a five-run penalty for each instance of time-wasting.
