Red Card in Cricket: CPL introduces new rule ahead of 2024 season

For the first time in the history of cricket, a football-esque rule is set to be introduced at the men's and women's Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Starting from the upcoming edition of CPL, bowling teams will be penalised for slow-over rates using a red card-like system. This will result in a player being asked to leave the ground, if the fielding side is behind schedule at the start of the 20th over of an innings.

A press release by CPL elaborated on the new rules.

Normally, a team is given 85 minutes to bowl 20 overs but in 2023, this will be closely monitored by the third umpire and over rates will be communicated to the captains via the on-field umpires at the end of every over.

The release further said that dispensations will be given for injuries, DRS and time-wasting by batting side where appropriate.

The fielding side is expected to have completed the 17th over of the innings after 72 minutes and 15 seconds, the 18th by 76 minutes and 30 seconds and the 19th by 80 minutes and 45 seconds.

Failure to stick to the stipulated time will result in consistently increased penalties each passing over.

Here's how the regulations will apply for the last 3 overs of an innings.

1. If behind the required over rate at the start of the 18th over, one additional player must enter the fielding circle (for a total of 5)

2. If still behind the rate at the start of the 19th over, two additional fielders must enter the fielding circle (for a total of 6)

3. If still behind the rate at the start of the 20th over, teams will lose a player from the field (selected by the captain) and have six inside the fielding circle.

4. There will also be an onus on batting teams to keep the game moving. After a first and final warning from the umpires, the batting team will be given a 5 penalty for each instance of time wasting.

Michael Hall, the Tournament Operations Director of the CPL stated, '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.'