Ahead of the next season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has limited the practice sessions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) clubs. The new rule states that teams can only play two warm-up games and can have a maximum of seven sessions. In addition to requesting that the host venues permit the use of the facilities for any local games, legends leagues, or celebrity tournaments, the BCCI memo informed the IPL teams of the new regulations.
The organizers made the choices “in view of the venues taking load during domestic matches, which are being played close to the start of the IPL season.” The Kolkata Knight Riders will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 22 to kick off the new season.
“Teams may have up to seven (7) practice sessions under floodlights, lasting up to three (3) hours, prior to the season’s first game and as specified in the Stadium Agreement. Of these, two (2) may be practice matches or open nets, according on the team’s preference. One of the main square’s side wickets will host the practice matches. A team’s practice match should not last more than three and a half hours if it is being played under lights. The BCCI notice said that practice matches must have the BCCI’s prior written consent in accordance with the Operational Rules.
“During the four (4) days before the relevant franchisee’s first home game of the season, the teams may not hold any practice games or sessions on the main square to prepare the field for the season. However, on these days, the home franchise will receive one side wicket for range hitting. During this time, the home franchise may ask the State Association for assistance.”
The BCCI statement also offered advice on how to handle a scenario in which both teams wish to prepare simultaneously before their IPL match.
“In the event that the home and away teams wish to practice at the same time, BCCI will ask the two Team Managers to try and resolve the double booking – either by one of the teams taking another session or by the two teams sharing the session. If the two teams cannot resolve the double booking, BCCI will consider the requests of both teams to determine the practice times. This will likely result in the creation of two 2-hour slots, allowing both teams to have similar playing conditions with exclusive use of the ground (e.g., 18:00 – 20:00 & 20:00 – 22:00).
“The BCCI will urge the two team managers to attempt to address the double booking if the home and away teams want to train at the same time. You can achieve this by having one team take a different session or by having both teams share the session. The BCCI will decide the practice times after taking into account the requests of both teams if the two teams are unable to resolve the double booking. This will probably result in the creation of two 2-hour slots, which will give both teams comparable playing conditions and exclusive use of the field (e.g. 18.00 – 20.00 & 20.00 – 22.00).
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