The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made slight changes in the rule for penalty runs in domestic cricket. According to the rule used previously, the batting team were awarded with five runs if the ball came in contact with any of the equipment on the ground of the fielding team, such as wicket-keeper’s helmet or a cloth lying on a ground. However, the batting team will not get this advantage anymore as per the new rule set by the BCCI.
According to the new penalty run rule introduced by the BCCI, if the ball comes in contact with any of the objects on the field, the batting team will not be benefited with five penalty runs, and the ball will be considered as a legal delivery. In these types of cases, the batting team can score runs through boundaries and run between the wickets. However, the bowling team can also take a wicket.
BCCI amends penalty run rule in domestic cricket
According to a report from Cricbuzz, it will not be considered as illegal fielding now if the ball contacts with any other objects on the ground. This also includes an object that has been accidentally fallen from a fielder. The other objects include wicket keeping gloves or a fielder’s cap that is tucked into the fielder’s waistband. Now, the batting team will not be benefited with penalty runs and the ball will remain in play.
“It is not considered illegal fielding if the ball contacts piece of clothing, equipment or any other object that has accidentally fallen from the fielder’s person. Wicketkeeping gloves or a fielde’r cap that is tucked into the fielder’s waistband, will not be penalised with penalty runs. The ball will remain in play and a dismissal would be valid,” a Cricbuzz report stated.