Sunil Gavaskar (PTI Image)
New Delhi: Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns about the duration of IPL matches and what he calls unnecessary activity on the field during matches. While the Indian Premier League continues to entertain fans with exciting contests and rising young stars, many matches this season have extended beyond the expected three-hour window, sometimes exceeding four hours.This has begun to test the patience of viewers. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sanctioned slow overs, delays remain a recurring problem.
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Gavaskar believes that one of the main reasons behind the slowdown is too many people entering the stadium during play. He pointed out that the reserve players and supporting staff often fall to the ground, even in small matters such as serving drinks.“All too often, one sees the unnecessary sight of stand-in players coming down to the ground to give a water bottle to a player near the boundary. This should not be allowed, as it effectively means more than 11 players are on the field during play, even if it is between deliveries,” Gavaskar wrote in his mid-day column. “During strategic timeouts also, one often sees six people on the field, including hitters who have yet to come up.
This takes freedoms too far. “Except for two reserve players carrying drinks and two members of the technical staff, no one else should be allowed on the ground.”
It calls for stricter rules and faster play
He also stressed maintaining discipline and respecting the field, recalling the advice of Richie Benaud.He added: “As Richie Benaud once told me at the beginning of my broadcasting career, the ground is a sacred place and only those officiating the match and the players should enter it. That is why, if I am not doing a pitch report or a TV programme, I rarely step onto the pitch. We hope that the BCCI will also ensure that full access accredited panelists do not cross the boundaries. Please maintain the sanctity of the playing area.”“Since all the hitters are already in the dugout, the two-minute allowance can be reduced to one minute. If the hitter is still not ready to face the pitcher, after several warnings, penalties should be imposed.”
