CPL 2023 and WCPL 2023 will enable the umpires to send a cricketer off the ground for ordinary over rates.

Over rates have been a concern for the authorities for years. Twenty20 cricket has moved away from its 75-minutes-an-innings motto long ago, and IPL matches often stretch beyond the four-hour limit.

To address this, the IPL forces teams to have an additional fielder inside the 30-yard circle for the overs not bowled inside the stipulated time. The ICC implements a monetary penalty across formats.

However, none of that seems to have addressed the problem as teams continue to not bowl their overs in time.

Also read: Watch: Sunil Narine becomes first cricketer to be shown a red card after over-rate violation

Starting this season, the CPL and the WCPL have implemented new playing conditions to combat poor over rates.

The television umpire will now keep updating the fielding side on their over rates – communicating through the on-field umpires as well as through the giant screen – with concessions for “injuries, DRS and the deliberate waste of time by the batting side”.

According to a Cricbuzz report, teams need to finish the 17th over by 72 minutes 15 seconds. If they do not, fielding sides will be forced to bring a fifth fielder inside the 30-yard circle. If they do not finish the 18th over by 76 minutes 30 seconds, they have to bring in a sixth fielder.

But the most interesting penalty will happen if they do not finish the 19th over by 80 minutes 45 seconds: “One fielder will be eliminated from the field before the beginning of the 20th over and six fielders inside the circle. The fielder to be eliminated can be chosen by the fielding captain.”

That will reduce the CPL and WCPL matches to 10 versus 11 contests – not a common phenomenon in cricket. Whether this forces CPL and WCPL teams to boost over rates is to be seen.

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Caribbean Premier League 2023Series Editorial