BCCI curbs movement of benched IPL players in latest rules

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ruled that all the benched players are not allowed to move around the ground during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match. The extra players are also not permitted to enter the field unless they are among the 16 named by the management in the team sheet. This is the latest addition to the match playing conditions (MPC) that were previously shared with the teams.

The exact reason for the new addendum is not clear, but recently the BCCI and IPL managements have issued instructions to team managers that substitute players, who are not part of the designated 16, cannot enter the field with drinks, bats or to deliver messages.

Additionally not more than five players, wearing bibs, can move around the boundary rope. These five can be either from the nominated 16 or from the rest of the squad but not exceeding five at any given time. Normally, they are seen carrying drinks or returning balls hit to the boundary.

"Instructions have been passed to us only recently that all substitutes cannot move around during the match. They are also not allowed to carry drinks onto the field. Only the 16 named in the team for the match can do so. In addition to that, only five outside the playing XI can move around. The others can sit in the dugout, but cannot move between the boundary line and LED advertising boards ," said multiple team sources. Normally, a squad has up to 25 players, of whom 16 are named in the team sheet of a match.

Clause 11.5.2 of the Playing Conditions reads, "An individual player may be given a drink either on the boundary edge or at the fall of a wicket, on the field, provided that no playing time is wasted. No other drinks shall be taken onto the field without the permission of the umpires. Any player taking drinks onto the field shall be dressed in proper cricket attire (subject to the wearing of bibs) - refer to the note in clause."

The 24.1.4 clause says, "Squad members of the fielding or batting team who are not playing in the match and who are not acting as substitute fielders shall be required to wear a team training bib whilst on the playing area (including the area between the boundary and the perimeter fencing)."

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