The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2023 is gearing up to introduce the Red Card regulation, aimed at maintaining the required over rates during the tournament. According to this directive, any fielding team falling behind schedule at the commencement of the 20th over will have one player withdrawn from their side.
In a statement, Michael Hall, the CPL’s director of tournament operations, expressed concern over the progressively elongating duration of T20 matches each year. He emphasized the cricket community’s responsibility to ensure the fluidity of the game and underlined the proactive approach taken by both franchises and match officials in this regard.
The implementation of in-game penalties, though preferably unnecessary, was deemed essential and proportionate by Hall. Monitoring of over rates will be entrusted to the third umpire, with updates provided to team captains at the conclusion of each over.
This information will also be relayed to the audience through on-field umpires, along with visual aids illustrating the deviation from the expected over rate. Exceptions will be granted for injuries, the Decision Review System (DRS), and instances of time-wasting by the batting team, where applicable.
CPL 2023 Slow Over-Rate Penalties:
- If the fielding side lags behind the required over rate at the beginning of the 18th over, an additional player must enter the 30-yard circle, resulting in a total of 5 fielders inside.
- If the fielding side falls behind the required over rate at the outset of the 19th over, 2 extra fielders must occupy the 30-yard circle, making it a total of 6 fielders within.
- Should the fielding side remain behind the required over rate at the commencement of the 20th over, the team will lose a player designated by the captain according to the Red Card regulation. Consequently, they will field with 6 players within the circle.
Furthermore, the batting side will incur a 5-run penalty for instances of time-wasting after receiving initial and final warnings from the umpires.
The forthcoming edition of the Caribbean Premier League will adhere to an 85-minute-per-inning rule. As per the official statement, the 17th over must conclude within 72 minutes and 15 seconds, the 18th over within 76 minutes and 30 seconds, and the 19th over within 80 minutes and 45 seconds, ultimately culminating within an 85-minute timeframe.
The men’s CPL 2023 is scheduled to commence on August 17, while the women’s event will kick off on August 31, featuring the newly introduced Red Card rule.
