There is a rule that has been in place since the beginning of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, no team has used that rule even once in the last 17 years. Even so, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reminded of this rule once again before the upcoming season.
The IPL rule is to take a ‘part-time replacement cricketer’. That is, a cricketer can be taken from the IPL’s ‘Registered Player Pool’ or RPP at any time. However, he can play for a certain period of the season. After that, that cricketer has to be released.
For example, if all the wicketkeepers of a team get injured after two matches of a season. Then the concerned team can take one wicketkeeper from the RPP to play as a wicketkeeper in the next match. Until at least one wicketkeeper of the team is healthy, the wicketkeeper taken from the RPP can play.
It can be one match or two matches. It can also be ten matches. However, once taken, he will not be able to play for the entire season.
The BCCI has again informed all the teams about this rule. Along with this, the list of who is in this year’s RPP has also been sent. It has been informed that if any cricketer is to be taken from the RPP, the board must be informed first. Only after permission is obtained, the cricketer of choice can be taken.
