The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a new policy regarding slow over-rates for captains in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting in 2025. Captains will no longer face match bans for slow over-rates, but instead will receive demerit points. This decision aligns with the International Cricket Council’s policy of assigning demerit points to captains for various offenses.
Teams were informed of this change during a captains’ meeting at the BCCI headquarters. The demerit points will carry over for a period of three years, and the severity of the offense will determine the number of demerit points assigned. Level 1 offenses will result in 25 to 75 percent match fees with demerit points, while Level 2 offenses will lead to four demerit points. Match referees have the authority to impose penalties such as additional demerit points or a 100 percent match fee penalty for every four demerit points accumulated.
Despite the possibility of a match ban in the future for accumulating multiple demerit points, there will be no immediate impact on captains for slow over-rates. However, Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, will miss the opening game of IPL 2025 due to an over-rate offense in the previous season. Additionally, the Board has amended the Decision Review System (DRS) clause in the playing conditions to now include referrals for height wides and wides outside the off-stump.
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