SRH’s Kane Williamson on March 29 became the second captain after Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma to be fined for an offence on slow over-rate grounds in Indian Premier League 2022 as his side crossed the legally allowed point to finish their 20-over quota against the Rajasthan Royals.
The New Zealander got handed a fine of INR 12 lakhs for maintaining a slow over-rate in the fixture against the Royals, who too were making the start of their campaign at the MCA International Stadium in Pune.
Williamson joined Rohit in the list of captains that have been fined for slow over-rate offence in the early days of the 2022 season. Rohit’s MI bowling unit were found short on this front in their first match of the tournament on March 27 against the Delhi Capitals in Mumbai.
“The Sunrisers Hyderabad have been fined after they maintained a slow over-rate during their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 match against Rajasthan Royals at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on March 29.”
“As it was the team’s first offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over rate offences, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kane Williamson was fined Rs 12 lakhs.”
a BCCI statement reads.
Notably, the league has adopted a stricter set of rules since last year to speed things up on the field. In earlier editions of the league, a team could start off the final over of the innings by the 90th minute. From the 2021 season onwards, IPL sides are required to finish off their 20-over quota in 90 minutes.
In a league where financial realities command that there be four official strategic timeouts per fixture, the BCCI and IPL governing council don’t want any further delays in the proceedings.
This year, the authorities have decided to double up the amount of the fine imposed on an over-rate offending skipper. In case Williamson and Rohit have another day at the helm where they fail to ensure their team is finishing the 20 overs on time, the next sum of fine imposed on them will be INR 24 lakhs.
As per the tournament rules, if a third offence for the season comes to light, the skipper will be not only liable to pay a sum of INR 30 lakhs to the authorities but also set to face a one-match ban.
