IPL is getting rid of the one rule that punished captains with a one-match suspension after three over-rate offenses in a season. From IPL 2025, these types of offenses will now lead to fines and in-field restrictions.
However, these rules will only come into effect from the 2025 IPL, and sanctions imposed prior to this season would have to be served. It essentially means that Hardik Pandya will have to serve a one-match suspension. He will miss the opening game of Mumbai against Chennai this season on March 23. However, it will not be the case going forward.
Instead of the suspension, the IPL governing council has decided to bring in the demerit points system. Now, the IPL code of conduct will be in line with the ICC code of conduct. So, from now on, any sanctions imposed by the match referee will result in demerit points. So, if a player is fined 25% of his match fee, he will also receive one demerit point. These demerit points will be valid for both players and officials as well. These points will accumulate and will remain on the individual’s record for 36 months.
Upon accumulation of enough demerit points, the player or official could get a suspension.
There is also an appeals process as well. The official, player, or franchise could appeal for any sanctions imposed under Level 2 or 3 offenses before the BCCI ombudsman. To appeal, the player, official, or franchise would have to pay an appeal fee of INR 90 lakh. If the appeal is completely successful before the ombudsman, the INR 90 lakh fee is refundable.
