New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a minor change in domestic cricket with the rule of penalty of runs in context to fielding. The country’s sporting governing body is reportedly said to write a clarification note to all the state associations to clear an old fielding rule.
The fielding side is penalised five runs if they deliberately place an object on the field and the ball contacts with it after the batter plays a shot. However, there are exceptions to the rules with ICC’s ‘The Fielder’ law under clause 28.2.2 reads as:
“It is not illegal fielding if the ball in play makes contact with a piece of clothing, equipment or any other object which has accidentally fallen from the fielder’s person, or been dropped by an umpire.”
The BCCI was operating in stark contrast to the aforementioned rule in the Indian domestic competitions with the fielding side penalised five runs in case of contacting any clothing equipment or object with the ball. However, the board has issued a clarification to undo that rule.
What was BCCI’s note to state associations?
Reasoning the rule 28.2.2 of the ICC, the Indian board has stated that there won’t be penalty sanctioned if caps or wicketkeeping gloves tucked in filders on the pitch fall and later get into contact with the ball.
“It is not considered illegal fielding if the ball contacts piece of clothing, equipment or any other object that has accidentally fallen from the fielder’s person. Wicketkeeping gloves or a fielde’r cap that is tucked into the fielder’s waistband, will not be penalised with penalty runs. The ball will remain in play and a dismissal would be valid,” the note from BCCI read, as reported by Cricbuzz.
Earlier this month, the BCCI decided to remove the ‘Impact Player’ rule from its premier domestic T20 competition – Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), though it will continue to be applicable in the Indian Premier League.
