IPL captains' meeting: What's on the agenda?

The IPL captains' meeting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will cover a host of issues, including the innings timer (60-second clock), the Impact Player rule, the concussion substitute clause and the code of conduct rules. However, the main focus is expected to be on discussions and clarifications around the two-bouncer rule, bat checks, ball replacement, use of saliva and the retired-out provision.

According to a BCCI communique to the franchises on Tuesday, accessed by Cricbuzz, Javagal Srinath and Nitin Menon - heads of the BCCI's match referees and umpires' panels, respectively - will address the captains. The meeting is scheduled from 4:30 pm to 6 pm on Wednesday (March 25).

The BCCI has recently shared the playing conditions for the season with franchises, highlighting key changes to Rule 4.4 (change of ball in the second innings); 5.8.3 (bat checks); 18.5.1 and 18.5.2 (deliberate short runs); 19.5.2 (fielder grounded beyond the boundary); 28.7.6 (restriction on the placement of the fielder); and Appendix D-3.9 (combining umpire review with player review).

A glance at the new season's playing conditions, in possession of this website, does not reveal any obvious changes, but the rules around ball replacement have been elaborated in detail - something that was absent in last year's playing conditions. Rule 4.4 in the latest playing conditions reads:

Ball lost or becoming unfit for play

If, during play, the ball cannot be found or recovered or the umpires agree that it has become unfit for play through normal use, the umpires shall replace it with a ball which has had wear comparable with that which the previous ball had received before the need for its replacement. When the ball is replaced, the umpire shall inform the batter and the fielding captain.

Team bowling second can request for a change of ball only once after the completion of the 10th Over. The bowling Captain can request for the change. This is applicable only once during the 2nd innings of the evening games irrespective of whether there is dew or no dew on the outfield. This request must be made only after the end of an over & not during an over. The umpires will change the ball with another ball having the same wear & tear. Further, the umpires can also change the ball at their discretion at any time during the match.

Scenario 1: Umpires change the ball for being wet/out of shape/lost/damaged any time before the 10th over. The fielding captain can still request for a ball change after the completion of the 10th over and the umpires will have to mandatorily change the ball.

Scenario 2: Captain requests to change the ball after 11th over for being wet and the umpires change it. After further 5-6 overs the captain can request for another ball change but this time it will be the discretion of the umpires to change the ball or not.

Scenario 3: Captain feels the ball is damaged or out of shape & requests the umpires to change it during the 11th over, the umpires are satisfied & decide to change the ball. After 5 overs the fielding captain requests the umpires to change the ball because of dew, umpires will have to mandatorily change the ball.

There are also other items like Team Sheet, Toss, Broadcast Media Commitments and Awards, about which there is no elaboration. The session will begin with an introduction by IPL COO Hemang Aming.