New Dehli March 13 (KNS): In a notable clarification, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Indian Premier League (IPL) teams are allowed to sign players temporarily under exceptional circumstances, although such instances have yet to occur in the tournament’s 17-season history.
According to BCCI's official communication to franchises, temporary player replacements are permitted through a system called the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP). This pool comprises unsold players from the IPL auction who have not withdrawn from the process.
Key Provision for Wicketkeepers
A special exemption applies when all specialist wicketkeepers in a team’s registered squad are unavailable for a match. In this case, a franchise can request the BCCI to approve a short-term wicketkeeper replacement from outside its squad. This player can only remain in the squad until one of the original wicketkeepers returns to fitness.
If the unavailable wicketkeeper is an overseas player and the franchise already has the maximum of eight overseas players in their squad, the replacement must be an Indian player.
Season-Ending Injuries and Other Replacements
Besides the wicketkeeper exception, the BCCI allows teams to replace any player ruled out for the entire season due to injury, illness, FTP commitments, lack of No Objection Certificate (NOC), or retirement.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelSuch replacements are allowed only if the original player is declared unavailable for the rest of the season and is certified by medical experts approved by the BCCI.
Importantly, the replaced player cannot return to play for the franchise in the same season.
Replacement Rules and Fees
Replacement players must be from the RAPP list.
Only one replacement is allowed per unavailable player.
The replacement player’s fee cannot exceed that of the player being replaced.
These fees are not counted towards the team’s salary cap for the season.
Any franchise employing a player as a net bowler must release him if another team signs him as a replacement.
Franchises need BCCI approval before finalizing any replacement deals. Additionally, replacements can only be signed after the season's player auction.
While the rulebook allows for such flexible arrangements, no team has yet utilized these provisions. However, BCCI has made it clear that these rules are in place to address unforeseen situations and maintain the competitive balance of the league.(KNS)