Extra hour for rain-affected matches in IPL

The Indian Premier League has decided to introduce an extra hour of play for matches affected by rain in the group stage while keeping a reserve day for the final in the event of a washout.      

In a meeting of the IPL's Technical Committee it was decided that group league matches will have an extra hour in the event of rain while the semi-finals and final will have two additional hours of play.      

The committee, in its meeting yesterday, also decided to go strict on substitutions.      

According to a statement released on IPL's official website, substitute fielders will be permitted only in the event of injury, illness or other acceptable reasons.      

The committee wants to ensure that substitutions should not be treated as comfort breaks and used only when necessary.      

The committee has also empowered on-field umpires to seek help from the third umpire in case they have doubts about the legality of a catch.      

So far, the third umpire was taking a call on run out, stumping and boundaries.      

In the event of a batsman hitting the sky camera, it was decided that it would be called a dead ball.      

All these changes to the rules will come into immediate effect, the IPL announced.