BCCI does away with Impact Player rule in SMAT, two-bouncer rule retained

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has done away with the Impact Player rule from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), the national domestic T20 competition. While this move was largely anticipated, it is at odds with the BCCI's persistence with the rule in the IPL. Recently, the BCCI informed the IPL franchises that the rule will be retained for the upcoming season of the IPL.

The SMAT decision was confirmed to the state association by the BCCI through a communication on Monday evening. The Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament starts across the country on November 23 and will run till December 15. In a short communication, the BCCI has said, "Kindly note that the BCCI has decided to do away with the provision of 'Impact Player' for the ongoing season."

The Impact Player rule was introduced in the SMAT on an experimental basis a couple of seasons ago, subsequently and expectedly adopted in the IPL as well. While it added excitement for broadcasters, turning the league into a massive visual spectacle with high totals posted and chased, it did not exactly resonate as well with the players. Many captains and coaches felt the rule was not in the best interest of the competition. Additionally, it hindered the development of all-rounders, as teams began preferring specialist batters and bowlers over all-round players.

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The BCCI, however, has continued with the two-bouncer rule, a clause that was introduced in the SMAT last season and subsequently in the IPL too. The relevant clause in the playing conditions states: "41.6.2 A bowler shall be limited to two fast short-pitched deliveries per over."

The two-bouncer per over rule is a novelty in the BCCI T20 matches. Globally, the International Cricket Council (ICC) permits only one bouncer per over. The extra bouncer was welcomed by the cricketer fraternity in the country, particularly in the IPL.

"It's an excellent move," Laxmipathy Balaji, a former India pacer and a former bowling coach of the Chennai Super Kings, had told Cricbuzz. "It will be a good addition to the armoury of fast bowlers and will provide bowlers, captains, and coaching staff with something to strategise and work with for a particular batter. It will also make the contest between bat and ball much more balanced."