MCL Cricket Rules                                           

MCL Changes the format to Fifteen-15 for MCL 2016, a form of cricket that was introduced in MA Cricket Atlanta in the year 2013, mainly with the aim of making the game more interesting and attracting more audience as well as promoting for the purpose of providing entertainment to the players. It is with a view on this aims only that many rules have been devised for it. Though it is similar to the traditional cricket game to quite an extent, there are certain differences as well. Most of these differences arise from changes in the rules and format of the game. We have given a brief description of the rules of Fifteen-15 cricket in the following lines.

Format

The format of a Fifteen-15 match is quite similar to normal limited-overs match, only the number of overs for batting is just fifteen, just as the name of the game suggests. The game is played between two teams, each of them having a single innings of 15 overs. In the context of Fifteen-15 cricket, there is a visual difference as well, though it is a pretty minor one. In Fifteen-15, members of the batting team do not arrive from/retire to traditional dressing rooms. Rather, they have a bench, mainly a row of chairs, visibly in the playing arena, used for coming and going purposes.

General rules

     The name "F15" implies that each team in a MCL cricket match will have a maximum of 15 overs. i.e Number of overs in each innings will be 15.

     Number of playing members will be 11 aside for each team (i.e. 11 can bat and 9 only can field at a time).

     For a match to be declared complete, full 15 overs should have been bowled and batted on.

     If, and only if, each of the two teams has faced (or had the opportunity to face) six overs, will be a match deemed to have played. During rain affected days – if the match is not completely abandoned and there is some time – both Captains can decide to play a reduced overs match.     

     Free Hit: If the bowler bowls a no-ball as a result of overstepping the popping crease, it is a no-ball, the batting team gets one run for the ball and the next delivery is a free hit. For this ball, the batsman is not given out by any way in the cricket rules apart from being run-out. The captain cannot change field setting and it will be the same as the previous ball if same batsman is facing free hit ball. Captain can change the field if other batsman is facing the free hit ball.

     Only maximum of 4 fielders can field on the leg side at any point of time.

     A new batsman has to come to the crease within 90 seconds after the dismissal of the previous batsman.

     If either of the umpires believes that a team is wasting time, he can award a five-run penalty, at his own discretion.

     No Duckworth/Lewis will be applied in case of rain abandoned matches. Matches will be re-scheduled.

     Winning team will be awarded 4 points and losing team will be awarded 0 points.

     There cannot be a tie in a F15 cricket game. Refer decider section.

     In MCL “chucking” rules are relaxed for players (mainly for players from non-cricket playing nations). Arm rotation is more than enough.

     Wicket keeper stumping is only a warning for batsmen from non-cricket playing countries. (3 warnings)

     For “Mankading” give two warning to the batsman.

     Retired batsman can come in only last after all other team members have batted.

     Short-pitched ball above the shoulder of the batsman will be a no ball.

     Fielder substitution can be done at the end of overs.

Tie deciders

If the match ends with the scores tied there must be a winner,

   There cannot be a tie in a F15 cricket game. If, and when, there is a tie by the end of a F15 match, it is broken with a one over per side –        “Eliminator” or “Super Over”.

   Each of the two teams nominates three batsmen and one bowler, to play a one-over per side, which can be termed as “mini-match” or “One1”.

   If a team loses two wickets before the over is complete, Rest of the balls are taken as dot balls and opposition team needs to score that runs  scored with an additional run.

   If this does not happen, the team with the higher score from its over wins it.

   In case there is a tie after the “mini-match” as well, the team that has higher number of sixes in its full innings, or in the “One1”, will be declared    the winner.

   If, by any chance, there is still a tie, the winning team is the one with the higher number of fours in both innings.

Duration 

     One innings per side, each innings limited to a maximum of 15 overs.

Interval

     The interval will normally be of 15 minutes duration. In reduced overs matches, the interval will be cut to 10 minutes.

Re-arrangement of Overs 

     Teams have 60 minutes to bowl 15 overs. In the first innings, the calculation of the number of overs to be bowled shall be based on one over for every full 3.75 minutes in the total time available for play up to the scheduled close of play. In the second innings

of the match, overs shall be reduced at a rate of one over for every full 3.75 minutes lost, unless the first innings finished early / second innings started early in which case no overs are lost until the time that has been gained is subsequently lost.

Ball 

     Red/Yellow hard tennis balls are to be used (yellow for night games).

The Result 

  Winning will be awarded 4 points and losing team will be awarded 0 points. There won’t be a tie in Fifteen15. Results will be derived from the tie deciders.

Bowling 

     No bowler should bowl more than 3 overs and only 3 bowlers allowed to bowl maximum of 3 overs. In a delayed or interrupted match, no bowler may bowl more than one fourth of the total overs allowed unless such a number has been exceeded before the interruption.

Net Run Rate 

     A team's net run rate is calculated by deducting from the average runs per over scored by that team, the average runs per over scored against that team.

     In the event of a team being all out in less than its full quota of overs, the calculation of its net run rate shall be based on the full quota of overs to which it would have been entitled and not on the number of overs in which the team was dismissed.

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_run_rate

Ranking 

Teams are ranked against each other based on the following criteria

     Higher number of points

     If equal, higher number of wins

     If still equal, higher net run rate

     If still equal, result of head to head meeting.

Clothing regulations 

     Each team is supposed to be in their team jersey during the game. Avoid different t-shirts.

     Its Selectors/Captains responsibility to get the whole team in jerseys during the game.

     Try to use a similar color track for the whole team.

Equipment regulations 

     There will be two bats provided by organizers for each game.

     Team can carry own bats for the games as required.

     Its team’s responsibility to ensure that their cricketing items are safe in the ground and not misplaced EOD.

Code of Conduct for Umpires 

     There will be two umpires for each match. Once main and one leg umpire.

     Umpires decisions during the game will be treated final. Every team needs to respect umpires decision.

     Umpires needs to ensure that any conflicts on a decision are resolved amicably on spot.

     Umpires to collect the score sheet from both the teams once the game is over and hand it over to organizing committee.

     Two warnings for batsman in case of “Mankading”.

     Umpires to conduct the toss.

     In case of a dispute beyond the rule book please contact MCL chairman “Shantanu Dasgupta” and he will be the final deciding authority then and there.

Code of Conduct of player 

Code of Conduct is implemented as part of the MA Cricket 2013 as continuing efforts to maintain the public image, popularity and integrity of cricket by providing: (a) an effective means to deter any participant from conducting themselves improperly on and off the ‘field-of-play’ or in a manner that is contrary to the ‘spirit of cricket’; and (b) a robust disciplinary procedure pursuant to which all matters of improper conduct can be dealt with fairly, with certainty and in an expeditious manner.

     Playing members to play in the spirit of the game.

     Playing members to avoid any unnecessary arguments among peers and umpires.

     All playing members are requested to abide by the code of conduct and play with positive spirits.

     Super Selector/Captains of each teams needs to ensure that all playing members play in the spirit of the game.