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CPL Organisers To Take Strict Stance on Slow Over Rates, Here are All Details

Vaibhav Tripathi

image-ll90k2cmDwayne Bravo alongside the umpire. (Twitter)

New penalties have been implemented for slow over rates in preparation for the upcoming 2023 season of the Men's and Women's Caribbean Premier League (CPL). In line with the customary T20 format, each team is granted a maximum of 85 minutes to complete their allotted overs. However, this season will see more vigilant monitoring of this regulation. 

Specifically, the fielding team is expected to have bowled the 17th over within 72 minutes and 15 seconds, the 18th over by 76 minutes and 30 seconds, and the 19th over by 80 minutes and 45 seconds.

The organisers recently revealed their decision to implement penalties, including the potential removal of a player from the field, in order to discourage time-wasting tactics and exert pressure on teams to maintain the pace and complete the designated 20 overs within the stipulated 85-minute timeframe.

Michael Hall, the CPL tournament operations director, expressed concerns over the elongation of T20 games in recent years, underlining the collective responsibility of cricket stakeholders to ensure the sport's dynamism. 

He emphasised that franchise teams and match officials have been made acutely aware of this responsibility in preparation for the upcoming tournament.

"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,"  CPL tournament operations director Michael Hall said.

"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. Our hope is that these in-game penalties are not needed, but we believe they are proportionate and necessary,"  he added. 

New Over-rate rules in CPL 2023

  • One fielder moves into circle if behind the rate at start of 18th over
  • Second fielder moves into circle if behind the rate at start of 19th over
  • An outfielder is removed from the field if behind the rate at start of 20th over
  • Five penalty runs for batting teams wasting time

The third umpire will monitor over rates, with updates communicated to team captains through on-field umpires at the end of each over. These updates will also be conveyed to the live audience and television viewers, employing graphics to depict the teams' progress in relation to the over rate.

Penalties for tardy over rates will come into play starting from the 18th over. However, specific allowances will be granted for injuries, decisions made under the Decision Review System (DRS), and instances of time-wasting by the batting team, as warranted. This initiative underscores the CPL's commitment to maintaining the vitality and rhythm of the T20 format.