The Effective Player concept, which is being started in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season, could only apply to Indian cricketers participating in the competition.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to ascend with official rules and regulations about how the Impact Player concept can be practiced during the IPL. Although, according to a report in Cricbuzz, franchises have earlier been informed that an overseas player cannot replace another overseas performer as a substitute. Also, overseas players cannot come in place of an Indian performer as a replacement.
The report included that the rule has been put in place to make sure that the basic concept of only 4 foreign players taking part in an IPL match does not get attenuated.
A couple of days ago, the BCCI established that the Effective Player concept will be introduced, beginning with the next IPL season. The cricket board’s note read:
“From IPL 2023 Season a tactical/strategic concept will be introduced to add a new dimension to IPL, wherein one substitute player per team will be able to take a more active part in an IPL match. The regulations pertaining to the same will be issued shortly.”
The BCCI presented the concept of performer substitution during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2022, taking motivation from football and a few other sports.
Impact Player regulation in SMAT 2022
While establishing the concept of Impact performer in this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the BCCI clarified that the modification was being brought in to add a new tactical strategic extent to the match. The cricket board had clarified:
“A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e. football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player.”
According to the rules for SMAT 2022, the substitute could be initiated at any time before the conclusion of the 14th over in either inning of a game. Although, the skipper/head coach/team manager had to advise either the on-field or the 4th umpire regarding the initiation of the Impact Player before the conclusion of the current over.
A cricketer who was replaced by an Impact Player was no longer permissible to take any further part in the game. Delhi all-rounder Hrithik Shokeen became the initial Impact Player in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.