India’s Cricket Board Scraps Impact Player Rule from Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
In a significant move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to scrap the Impact Player rule from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 tournament, which is set to commence on November 23 and run until December 15. However, the cricket board has opted to retain the two-bouncer rule in the competition.
The Impact Player rule was first introduced in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on an experimental basis during the 2022-23 season and was later incorporated into the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to a BCCI communication, "the provision of ‘Impact Player’ for the ongoing season" has been done away with.
Interestingly, the BCCI recently confirmed that the Impact Player regulation will continue in the IPL for the 2025-2027 period. While announcing the updated player regulations for the T20 league, the BCCI stated that the Impact Player Regulation would continue for the next three-year cycle.
On the other hand, the two-bouncer rule, which limits a bowler to two fast short-pitched deliveries per over, will remain in place in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This rule, unique to the competition, differs from the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, which permit only one bouncer per over.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has thrown his weight behind the Impact Player rule, dismissing suggestions that it is detrimental to all-rounders. In an interview with The Indian Express, Dhumal stated, "Impact players have added value to the tournament… The idea is to give a platform to an additional batter or a bowler, so that they can perform with their skillset."
Additionally, a mega auction is set to take place ahead of IPL 2025, where each franchise can retain six players, with a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.
It will be interesting to see how the scrapping of the Impact Player rule affects the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while the retention of the two-bouncer rule will likely continue to be a topic of discussion among cricket enthusiasts.
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