New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders have expressed their displeasure over the mid-season rule change implemented by the IPL governing body on Tuesday, May 21. The BCCI announced the addition of 120 minutes of extra time to the match duration to minimise the possibility of a washout due to rain threat in the coming days across the country.
The sudden move has sparked criticism among some franchises. According to a report in Cricbuzz, concerns have been raised with the Indian Cricket Board, with one franchise (KKR) putting the discontent on record with a mail.
IPL, while announcing the rule change, cited the adverse weather conditions in the country and a delay in concluding the tournament following a halt of one week due to the India-Pakistan military conflict.
KKR CEO expresses displeasure over mid-season rule change
However, the KKR CEO has been left unimpressed with the timing of the decision.
“While these mid-season changes to the rules may be necessary under the circumstances, one would have expected more consistency in the way such changes are being applied,” Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore said in an email to Hemang Amin, the COO of the IPL, as published by Cricbuzz.
KKR argued that if the rule had been applied earlier, their must-win match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 17 may not have been abandoned, as the extra time may have allowed a five-over game.
Awarded just one point after the washout in Bengaluru on Saturday, the defending champions were officially knocked out of the playoffs race. The three-time winners are sitting in sixth position with 12 points from 13 games, and after suffering a third washout this season, the maximum they can accumulate is 14 points.
“When the IPL re-started, it was clear that the first game on May 17 KKR vs RCB was at high risk of being interrupted due to rain in B’lore. The forecast was there for all to see. Not only was the game washed out, but the additional 120 minutes now being applied may have provided a chance of at least a 5 over a side game (sic).”
Mysore added that the way this ad hoc decision was applied was not appropriate for a tournament of this stature.
“The washout ended KKR’s chances of making the playoffs. Such ad hoc decisions and inconsistencies of applying them are not appropriate for a tournament of this standing,” Mysore said, adding, “I am sure you also understand why we feel aggrieved.”
According to Cricbuzz, KKR is not the only team left aggrieved by the decision to change rules mid-season and feel that it would set a wrong precedent.
Due to the rain threat in Bengaluru, RCB’s last home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been shifted from Bengaluru to Lucknow. The match, scheduled for Friday, May 23, has been moved to Lucknow due to adverse weather conditions in South India.
Kolkata Knight Riders is among a number of franchises to express displeasure over the mid-season rule change implemented by the IPL governing council. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
