The Impact Player rule will enable teams to utilise their 12th man.
The rule will enable teams to utilise their 12th man but the latest Cricbuzz report suggests that it may only apply to Indian players.
While the BCCI is yet to share the regulations outlining how the rule will work, BCCI managers who are in touch with various franchises have indicated that only Indian players could come in as the 12th player or as an active substitute during a match.
As per the report, the franchises have been informed that they will not be allowed to bring in an overseas player in place of an overseas player or an Indian player as well. Only an Indian cricketer can be brought in as a substitute. It is also because of the rule that only four foreign players can take part in any team’s playing XI.
The BCCI decided to introduce the concept of Impact Player in the IPL after getting satisfied with the experiment in the recently held Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
"The concept is to allow one substitute player per team to take a more active part in a match. This would add a new tactical /strategic dimension to the game. A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e. football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player," the BCCI had said while introducing the rule in the SMAT earlier this year.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)