IPL in works to introduce no-ball umpire

India´s cricket board is planning to have dedicated officials for observing no-balls at next year´s lucrative IPL. Photo: BCCI India´s cricket board is planning to have dedicated officials for observing no-balls at next year´s lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament to cut down on umpiring howlers.This year´s edition of the cash-rich league witnessed several run-ins between players and officials with the standard of umpiring questioned."We will have another umpire for only checking no-balls," a senior official told reporters on Tuesday after a meeting in Mumbai."Many times you will see it´s a no-ball only when a batsman gets out and regularly there may be many more. We want to use the technology."There will be an umpire, who will be focused on no-balls only and he will not be third or fourth umpire."India captain Virat Kohli questioned the umpiring in the star-studded league after his Royal Challengers Bangalore were denied a win when Mumbai Indians paceman Lasith Malinga overstepped on the final delivery.The blatant no-ball was spotted on the giant screen at the stadium but not by the on-field umpire.Kohli also had a heated exchange with English umpire Nigel Llong -- who later reportedly kicked a door following their encounter -- after the official called out Umesh Yadav for a no-ball.Replays had suggested the bowler´s back foot was behind the line.In another ugly umpire-player confrontation, Chennai Super Kings skipper and former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni stormed the pitch to confront umpire Ulhas Gandhe over a no-ball decision.It is understood having an additional official for no-balls could be trialled at a domestic tournament before it is introduced in the IPL.A new concept of "power play" -- allowing a player in the squad who is not necessarily in the XI to come in at the fall of a wicket or to replace a bowler at any point -- was also discussed at the meeting.The auctions for the 13th edition of the glitzy extravaganza will be held in Kolkata on December 19.The IPL, which was hit by a spot-fixing scandal in 2013, has emerged as the world´s wealthiest league in the sport, with the tournament replicated by other nations such as Australia.

from The News International - Sports https://ift.tt/2WKzxcT