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, know what the red card rule means in the cricket league
On the 12th of August 2023, The CPL Tournament Operations Director, Michael Hall announced the implementation of a red-card 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 end of the 20th over of an innings, a player will be required to leave the field.
What is the red card rule introduced in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2023 and what it means in cricket
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.
New over rate penalties for CPL and WCPL matches.
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— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 12, 2023
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, 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.
"We have been disappointed that our T20 games have been getting longer and longer each year, and we want to do what we can to arrest this trend," Michael Hall, the CPL's tournament operations director.#CricketTwitter #CPL23 pic.twitter.com/Mc8KpmZKld
— STUMP STORIES (@TheStumpstories) August 13, 2023
Michael Hall, also emphasized the rationale behind the introduction of this rule. He stated, “We have been disappointed that our T20 games have been getting longer and longer each year, and we want to do what we can to arrest this trend. It is the duty of those involved in cricket to ensure that the game keeps moving and we have sensitised both the franchises and our match officials to this duty ahead of the tournament.”
As the countdown to the CPL 2023 begins, all eyes are on the players, captains, and match officials who will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of this innovative new rule. With the stage set for a thrilling tournament, the red-card system is poised to raise excitement levels.
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