Teams to be sent to Hangzhou Asian games, concept of Impact Player to be continued in SMAT among other key decisions taken during BCCI's 19th apex council meeting

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held its 19th Apex Council meeting on Friday, July 7, 2023, at Mumbai.

The following key decisions were taken during the meeting –

1.          BCCI will formulate a policy for its players (including retired players) with respect to their participation in overseas T20 leagues.

2.          BCCI will send both men’s and women’s teams to the Asian Games scheduled to be held in September 2023 at Hangzhou, China. However, considering the overlap of schedule of the Asian Games with ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, BCCI will select from the players not participating in the World Cup to play in the Asian Games.

3.          BCCI shall continue with the concept of Impact Player in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the next season with two variations from previous season and the Indian Premier League –

(a)     The teams will have to select their playing XI along with 4 substitute players before the toss; and

(b)     The teams can use the Impact Player at any time during the match. In the previous season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a team could only use the Impact Player before the 14th over of an innings.

4.          The BCCI has decided to introduce two bouncers per over in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to balance the contest between bat and ball.

5.          BCCI shall work towards the upgradation of stadiums in the country in two phases:

(a)   The first phase will deal with the upgradation of the venues of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, work for which shall be completed before the commencement of the World Cup; and

(b)   The second phase will involve upgradation of rest of the venues.