IPL 2023: Impact Player Rule Will Only Apply To Indians Unless The Team Has Fewer Than Four Overseas Players: BCCI

The BCCI elaborated on the subject by stating that an international player can only be employed as an Impact Player in extremely rare circumstances if a team names less than the allotted four foreign players in the starting XI.

“Only an overseas player who is part of 4 substitutes named in the team sheet can be used as an Impact Player. If a team introduces an overseas player as an Impact Player in a match, in no circumstance can a 5th overseas player take the field,” the three-page note states.

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The note adds, “A Player who is replaced by an Impact Player (“Replaced Player”) can no longer take part in the remainder of the match and is also not permitted to return as a substitute fielder.”

As per the BCCI, an Impact Player cannot act as a captain. The specific explanation goes as follows:  “If an Impact Player is deployed by a team and an injury happens, the same regulation will apply as it does now (see Rule 24. Fielder’s Absence; Substitutes). If the umpires believe a fielder has been hurt or falls ill during the game, a substitute fielder may take the field in place of the injured player.”

“The substitute is not permitted to bowl or serve as captain. Penalty time will be applied to the player off the field for the batting and fielding teams according to the playing conditions.”

For a bowling team the rules go like this:

(i) Impact Player can be introduced in the manner provided in Clause 1.3 above. If the Impact Player is introduced at fall off wicket during the over, in that scenario the Impact player cannot bowl till the over is completed.

(ii) The fielding captain will notify one of the standing umpires before the start of the new over if he wants to get the Impact Player. At the end of the over the standing umpire will signal a change and the Impact Player would replace the outgoing player.

(iii) An Impact Player may bowl a full allotment of 4 overs in an uninterrupted inning irrespective of the number of overs previously bowled by the player he is replacing.

(iv) If a bowler is injured mid-over or he is suspended during the over, the current playing conditions shall prevail (refer to rule 17.8, bowler incapacitated, or suspended during an over). The Impact Player can be introduced immediately and could finish the maximum over quota (4 in an uninterrupted match), provided he is not allowed to bowl the remaining balls of that over and he does not bowl two overs consecutively.

The other broad rules of the Impact Player are:

1.1. Teams need to identify the playing XI and 4 substitutes at the time of the toss. Out of the 4 substitutes named in the team sheet, only one player can be used as an Impact player.

1.2. Both teams are allowed to use one Impact Player per match. It is, however, not compulsory. It is up to teams whether they want to use the Impact Player or not.

1.3. The Impact Player can be used in the following manner: The Captain will nominate the Impact Player. The Impact Player can be introduced (i) before the start of the innings; (ii) after completion of an over; or (iii) in case of a batter, at the fall of the wicket or the batter retiring at any time during the over (as provided in Clause 1.8 (iv) below). The bowling team can also get an Impact Player during the fall of the wicket, but that Impact Player will not be permitted to bowl the remaining balls in that over if the wicket has fallen mid-over.

1.4. A Player who is replaced by an Impact Player (“Replaced Player”) can no longer take part in the remainder of the match and is also not permitted to return as a substitute fielder.

1.5. If a player gets injured while fielding mid-over, the current playing condition will prevail (refer Rule 24.1 – Substitute Fielders). The injured player can no longer take part in the match if the team introduces Impact Player to replace him. Otherwise, Impact Player can only be introduced in the manner provided in Clause 1.3 above.

1.6. In case of an Impact Player used by a team, and if an injury occurs, the same rule will apply as they currently do under playing conditions (refer Rule 24. Fielder’s Absence; Substitutes). If umpires are satisfied that a fielder has been injured or becomes ill during the match, a substitute fielder is allowed to field in place of an injured player. The substitute shall not bowl or act as captain. Penalty time for the batting and fielding teams will apply to the player off the field for the substitute as per the playing conditions.

1.7. Impact Player can only be an Indian player unless there are fewer than 4 overseas players in the Playing XI.

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