Exclusive 'No Ball Umpire' for IPL, no 'Power Player' for time being

IPL Governing Council is planning to have an umpire assigned specifically to check " balls" after a number of howlers in past few seasons led to heightened concerns about quality of Indian match officials. It was also learnt that much-hyped 'Power Player' concept of substitutions during IPL games was shelved for time being as project can't be piloted during upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (National T20), starting later this week. GC chaired by former Test batsman Brijesh Patel met at cricket hequarters to discuss a slew of issues including FTP window, availability of foreign players, FTP of Indian team and possibility of franchises playing friendlies abro. However, talking point was having an exclusive umpire to check on contentious front-foot and height balls.

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"If all goes well, during next Indian Premier League, you could see ar umpire apart from regular umpires just to "observe" -balls. concept sounds weird, but this was among issues discussed in first IPL Governing Council meeting which was held here," a senior GC member told reporters after meet. "We want to use techlogy. We are having ar umpire for only observing -balls. re will be an umpire, who will be focused on -balls only. And he will t be a third or fourth umpire," influential member said.

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Exclusive '-ball umpire for IPL

re was a lot of hue and cry during last IPL when some debatable decisions were taken with regards to front-foot -balls.  India skipper Virat Kohli even h a heated word with Indian umpire S Ravi, who failed to spot a -ball by Mumbai Indians' Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga, which proved costly for Royal Challengers Bangalore during one of IPL matches. It is understood that concept of having such umpires could be tried at any of domestic tournament before a final call will be taken on it.

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On concept of 'Power Player', official said: " matter was discussed but re is too little time to implement during Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which starts on Friday, vember 8." PTI h reported on Friday that re was little or possibility of 'Power Player' being introduced for time being without consent of BCCI president Sourav Ganguly. Sources close to president h, in fact, said that re is chance of implementing it for time being.  re have been questions in BCCI corridors wher one particular IPL operations man h devised strategy which would have favoured one particular franchise with d players. Also, a concept like this could send potential bookies and match-fixers on an overdrive.

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