The latest news is that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has applied restrictions to practice sessions, which is for IPL teams getting ready for the next season. Under the recent guidelines, teams will be allowed to have a maximum of seven practice sessions and only two warm-up matches can be done.
This has been communicated to the IPL franchises through a BCCI message, which also requested host venues to cater to the local games, legends leagues, or celebrity tournaments.
As per reports from Cricbuzz, these measures were instituted to reduce the pressure on the venues hosting domestic matches just before the commencement of the IPL.
The season is going to kick off on March 22 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where Kolkata Knight Riders will take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
BCCI’s note outlined, “In advance of the first match of the season and as set out in the Stadium Agreement, teams may have up to seven practice sessions of up to three hours in duration under floodlights, of which two can be practice matches or open nets as decided by the team. The practice matches are to take place on one of the side wickets of the main square.”
Moreover, the BCCI further added that there shall be a period not exceeding three and a half hours when a practice match is being held under lights. Prior written permission from BCCI is required for conducting any practice matches as per Operational Rules.
No practice sessions or matches shall be held on the main square within the four days preceding the first home match of that franchise in order to prepare the pitch for the new season.
However, each team may use one side wicket for range hitting during this time, if needed, the State Association will help the home franchise during this period.
