The former Indian opener has also urged to provide "bonus points" to teams that win by big margins.
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Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra wants to see five overseas players in a playing XI and “bonus points” to be given to IPL teams that win by big margins. He feels that “bonus points” must be given more preference over the net run rate system, which he calls it “very complicated.” Currently, the net run rate is used to decide the points table positions when teams are locked on the same points. These are a few suggestions Chopra wants to see in the Indian Premier League from next year onwards. Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “If you win the match before 10 overs, you should get an extra bonus point.”
“The net run rate which is very complicated and beyond our understanding, it goes up and down always, sometimes goes down even when a team wins… cricket is already a complicated game but if you add the bonus to it, then if two teams are locked in at same points the team with more bonus points should go ahead.”
With the reported introduction of two new teams from IPL next year, Aakash Chopra wants franchises to have five overseas players in the playing XI. He feels this move will help them maintain the standard of the tournament.
“You should allow five overseas players. You think you do, but that’s not the case… You won’t find 70 quality Indian players and the standard will go down… Just for the next two three years allow five overseas players and in the meantime if your Indian players improve then you can change that rule,” he added.
The former Indian batsman further urged the BCCI to make it mandatory for the franchises to be transparent about the injuries of players. “I request you [the franchises] with folded hands, please start giving updates on injuries. You say fans are your heartbeats or ‘biggest assets’ but you never tell them anything about who won’t play when and why not… Other leagues don’t do this. Look around the world and you’ll see that the exchange of absolute information is so important… BCCI should make it mandatory for them to declare all this.”
Aakash Chopra also wants to see improvement in the standard of umpiring. He explained: “The third-umpire is making mistakes, the on-field umpire is making mistakes, sometimes three of them… DRS can save a batter from getting out but when the umpire gives out, the ball is declared dead and the run the batter took is lost… this could be the difference between you winning and losing the trophy. Firstly, improve the standard of the umpires… and then make them accountable for their mistakes and say ‘goodbye’ to them if they are not doing their job right.”
The former Indian opener further suggested a different approach to avoid over-rate violations. “You need to start penalizing them and not with the money, no body cares about that. Franchises pay those fines, not the players. I say it takes 85 minutes for every innings but give them 90,” he added.
“Your innings should be over in 90 minutes and the overs you bowl after that should have one extra fielder in the circle. Give allowance for injuries, ball getting lost, etc, but you can’t allow an extra half an hour for every innings, it’s no joke.”
