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Vivo IPL 2021: BCCI scraps ‘Soft Signal’ from the upcoming Vivo IPL 2021.

Vivo IPL 2021: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally scrapped the ‘Soft Signal’ offering from the on-field umpire to third umpires from the fourteenth edition of the Indian Premier League. In the recent past, international cricket is surrounded by controversies caused by the ‘Soft Signal’ on debatable decisions.

The IPL 2021 is all set to commence from 09th April 2021 with Mumbai Indians taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the league opener.

A few days ago, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that there should be an ‘I don’t know’ call for the on-field umpires in case they are doubtful about any decision. 

In the fourth T20I between India and England, debutant Suryakumar Yadav after smacking his fifty played a scoop and the ball went to fine-leg. Fielder Dawid Malan took a blinder however the on-field umpires were in dicey situations and referred the call of fair-catch to the third umpire and gave the soft-signal ‘Out”. The TV Umpire could not overturn the on-field umpire’s decision of ‘Out’ due to not having any conclusive evidence that the ball is touching on the ground.

The BCCI gave an update that the on-field umpires will not give any soft signal while referring any decision to the TV Umpire in the upcoming 14th Season of IPL.

The ‘Soft Signal’ is scrapped for fair play and the third umpire could give the right decision without having in mind any other thoughts.

The BCCI official in the know of the development said, “There have been cases wherein the soft signal has kind of created confusion rather than giving clarity to the third umpire and that is why it was felt that going back to the old method of referring decisions to the third umpire if the on-field umpires are not sure should be followed.”

Overturn the short run call by on-field umpires:

In another major development in the IPL rule book is that the third umpire can overturn the decision of short-run by on-field umpires. The third umpire on replay will check the decision and if needed will correct it.

“Short-run: In the case of the short run, the third umpire checks the short run and can overturn the decision made by the on-field umpires,” states the updated playing conditions for IPL 2021.

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