The new BBL rules could increase the threat of spot-fixing, Cricket Australia (CA) is reported to be concerned. According to a recent article by The Age, CA has asked commentators to be cautious while having a conversation with on-field players, during the course of the match.
The rule that is most likely to help the bookies, according to CA, is the provision for 'Bash Boost,' which is a point given to the chasing or the defending team in the middle of the second innings. If the chasing side has scored more runs than their opponent at the 10-over mark, they get the point, otherwise, the defending team gets it.
According to CA, they would advise the commentators not to talk to the players, especially batters, in the 10th over or the overs leading up to it, so as to maintain the integrity of the game.
Malcolm Speed, formerly with the International Cricket Council (ICC), however, is of the opinion that the rule change wouldn’t really cause any problems, as the bookies won't be interested in it.
"I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If you want to have an exotic field, you can choose if it's the eighth over, the 10th over, the 12th over...and if you have got the fix in, that's an opportunity,” The Age quoted him as saying. “But I don't think putting the emphasis on the 10th over is going to have the bookies doing handstands and saying: 'That's our opportunity, that's the one we have been waiting for'. I don't think it's any different to what's been there previously," he added.
The CA has added three new rules such as 'Power Surge,' 'X-Factor Player,' and 'Bash Boost' to make the league more engaging.
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