BANGKOK CRICKET LEAGUE
 

(Est 2002)

Bangkok Cricket League 50-Over ODI Rules (Merged with ICC ODI Regulations)
 

Authority

• These Rules for Competitions are as approved by the Bangkok Cricket League. (Version 5, 2024)

Compliance

• A team registering to enter any Competition conducted by the Bangkok Cricket League automatically agrees to comply with these rules.
• Playing conditions unless noted otherwise are for all seasons
• Playing conditions noted are for all 25 Over Competitions played under the BCL.

THE LAWS OF CRICKET

• Except as varied hereunder in these Rules, all matches shall be played in accordance with the current Laws of Cricket, ICC Code of Conduct & ICC Playing Regulations referenced around the ODI & T20 Formats

 

Match Format and Structure:

• Each team to play each other once in a round robin format unless another format is pre-determined at the start of the season.
• Finals series will include the Top 3 teams determined by position on the points table at the end of the round robin games.
• Innings: Each team is allowed to bat for a maximum of 50 overs. Both teams compete to score the highest number of runs in their allotted overs.
• Players: Each team consists of 11 players. Up to 4 substitutes can be used, but these substitutes cannot bat, bowl, keep wickets, or act as captain unless explicitly allowed due to injury or other exceptional circumstances.

The league format is designed to provide a fair number of games for all teams, with matches determined based on the number of teams in the league. Additionally, the ranking of teams for fixtures will be based on the final standings from the previous season's league table (before semi-finals and finals were played).

1. If the League Has 7 Teams

• All 7 teams will play 1 round, with an additional 2 games, ensuring that each team plays 8 matches.
• The match schedule is as follows:
  • First Round: Round robin games between teams
  • Additional Games: 1 vs 2, 2 vs 3, 3 vs 4, 4 vs 5, 5 vs 6, 6 vs 7 & 1 vs 7
• Total Matches per Team: 8 matches.

2. If the League Has 6 Teams

• All 6 teams will play 1 round of games, with an additional 2 games, so that each team plays a total of 7 matches.
• The match schedule is as follows:
  • First Round: Round robin games between teams
  • Additional Games: 1 vs 2, 2 vs 3, 3 vs 4, 4 vs 5, 5 vs 6 & 1 vs 6
• Total Matches per Team: 7 matches.

3. If the League Has 5 Teams

• All 5 teams will play 2 full rounds against each other, with each team facing every other team twice (home and away format), giving a total of 8 matches per team.
• Total Matches per Team: 8 matches.

4. If the League Has 8 Teams or over - All 8 teams will play 1 round of games.

Team Ranking for Match Schedules

• The ranking of the teams for fixture scheduling will be determined by the final standings of the previous year's league table, before the semi-finals and finals were played. This ensures that the top-performing teams from the previous season are matched against appropriate competition from the start.

This format balances the number of matches and promotes a fair competition while considering historical performance.This structure guarantees fairness, with all teams playing an equal number of games in their respective leagues.

Players Eligibility :

Registration

All players has to be register with the BCL before they may have permitted to play in any BCL Competition. No player shall play for more than one Club during the course of a given season unless approve in writing by the present Bangkok Cricket League organizing committee or stated below under the “Different Clubs” clause. Any team breaching this condition, wittingly or un-wittingly, shall forfeit all points earned in that and subsequent matches in which that person plays, and any matches then will be awarded as a win to the opposition.

Residency Status.

All players in any Bangkok Cricket League competition are expected to be working,studying or living in Thailand with the understanding that their presence in Thailand is not solely directly related to cricket or a short term holiday / vacation. No player shall be bought over from outside of Thailand with the main intention to play within the league. Any team breaching this condition, wittingly or un-wittingly, shall forfeit all points earned in that and subsequent matches in which that person plays.

A player must have been in Thailand for a period of 1 WEEK prior to his first game being played. Any exception must be notified to the present Bangkok Cricket League organising committee in writing before this player plays his first game. Team captains must abide by the spirit of this Rule.

Different Clubs.

A player may NOT play for different Clubs in a given season except if that player is a registered youth player within the C.A.T. ranks and is not older than 18 years of age as at November 1 in the year the season commences. In this case, the team wanting to have the services of this player other than this player’s original club, must inform the present coaching staff of the youth development within the C.A.T. to request permission. The club must also inform both the BCL and proposed opposition prior to the toss of the coin of the scheduled game in which this player will play.

Addendum #1 – It is now permissible that any female player within the ranks of the BCL / Cricket Association of Thailand be able to play for any team and in any division within the Bangkok Cricket League however permission must be given by a representative of either the CAT or BCL prior to that player taking part in the game.

Addendum #2 – It is now permissible that any player over the age of 50 years as at November 1st of the season in question, be able to play for two clubs within the Bangkok Cricket League but not in the same Division. The player may also play for multiple teams within the same club without any restrictions applied.
Addendum #3 – It is now permissible a Premier Division team can nominate Three players from a lower diviison club to play only Premier Division. This must be done prior to the season starting.

 

Player Movements within the Divisions :

Clubs with a team in more than one division must strictly adhere to the following. Teams not abiding by this rule will lose all points gained in games where they have been guilty of playing an ineligible player. If the team wins a game, where they have been found guilty of ignoring the above rule, then the opposition team will be awarded winning points for that game.

• A Premier Division Team must register 14 players prior to the start of the season with a nomination of 7 players being deemed as the Top 7 Players.
  • None of the Top 7 Players may play in any games in a lower division.
  • If a club has a team in all 3 Divisions, the registered 14 players in Premier Division will not be allowed to play in B Division along with the top 7 not being allowed to play in any lower Division.
  • The above regulation noted to a club with a team in all 3 divisions does not apply to any club with a team in just 2 divisions.
  • For a club with a team in Premier Division and one other lower division, the top 7 rules then applies to the Premier Division List.

• Once a player plays a predetermined amount of games in Premier Division which will include preliminary games, semi finals or finals, then that player will not be eligible to play in any lower division matches following his quota of allowed game in Premier Division. The exact number of games will be determined at the start of each season and will be notified to all clubs. Refer to season qualifications and restrictions at the end of these playing conditions.

• An A Division Team must register 12 players prior to the start of the season with a nomination of 7 players being deemed as the Top 7 Players.
  • None of the Top 7 Players may play in any games in B Division or lower.
• Any player 18 and under as of November 1st of the season, will be allowed to play for any teams without restrictions being applied however must still qualify for finals under current regulations.
• Any National Team player over the age of 20 will not be approved to play any games in either A Division nor B Division within the season unless his club only plays those divisions.This applies to the nominated season in question.

• Any player over the age of 50 years as on November 1st of the current season, will be able to play for two clubs within the Bangkok Cricket League but not in the same Division. The player may also play for multiple teams within the same club without any restrictions applied however must still qualify for finals under current regulations.
• If any players found not following rules will be given official warning from BCL and will be banned for 2 or more games as deemed appropriate.

 

Player No Objection Certificate (NOC) Rule in case of shifting team :

Players moving from one club to another in the middle of any running season should meet the following criteria :

• Team Go Ahead - No objection certificate from the earlier team, clearly releasing the said player for the remainder of the season.

• Number of matches - Player should not have played more than 20% matches of the season from the earlier team (or nearest rounding off).

• Cut-off Time - The request for NOC from the league to change teams must be made within a period of 1 month of the earlier team having played its first match of the league.

• Limited Scope – A player can request to change teams only once within a running season. No such restrictions on a player to change teams after an end of the season.

• Admin Fees - Player must pay an admin fee of THB 500

 

Match Schedules and Timings :

Matches may be played on Saturdays, Sundays or Public Holidays at any allocated ground that is available for BCL League Games. Other venues are also possible throughout the season. Fixture dates and venues will be drafted under the direction of the present Bangkok Cricket League coordinator. Full match schedules will be shown on the current BCL Website. (www.bclcricket.com)

Match Duration:

• A 50-over ODI match typically lasts around 7 hours.
• The match is divided into two innings, with each team allotted 50 overs.

Session Timings:

1. First Innings:

   • The first innings begins at the scheduled start time and lasts for 3 hours and 30 minutes.
   • Includes short drinks breaks, generally after every 15 overs.

2. Interval:

   • A 30 minute break is provided between innings.

   • Interval Timing After the First Innings:

     If the first innings of an ODI match concludes early (e.g., if the batting team is bowled out in 20 or 30 overs), the standard interval duration of 30 minutes will still be maintained.
   • This rule ensures that both teams have a consistent break period regardless of the duration of the first innings.
   • The second innings will commence after the 30-minute interval, following the early conclusion of the first innings.

   • This rule ensures fairness and allows the fielding side adequate rest before beginning their batting innings.

3. Second Innings:

   • The second innings also lasts for 3 hours and 30 minutes, with the same provisions for drinks breaks.

Over Rate:

• Teams are expected to maintain an over rate of 15 overs per hour. This means each innings should be completed within 3 hours and 20 minutes, allowing for 10 minutes of leeway for interruptions, player reviews, and other factors.

Penalties for Slow Over Rate:

• If a team fails to bowl their overs within the allotted time, penalties may be imposed, which can include fines or point deductions in league matches.
• Captains are held responsible for the over rate, and repeated offenses could lead to suspension.

 

Fielding Restrictions and Powerplays:

• First Powerplay (Overs 1-10):
  • The first 10 overs of each innings are the mandatory powerplay.
  • During these overs, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle.
• Final Powerplay (Overs 41-50):
  • For the remaining overs, a maximum of five fielders can be positioned outside the 30-yard circle.

Bowling Regulations:

• Over Limit per Bowler: No bowler is allowed to bowl more than 10 overs in a match. This ensures that no single bowler dominates the game.
• No-Balls:
  • Any delivery where the bowler’s front foot lands beyond the popping crease will be called a no-ball, resulting in a free hit for the batting side.
  • Any delivery that is considered dangerous (such as high full tosses) is also called a no-ball.
• Wide Balls:
  • A ball delivered outside the reach of the batsman, either on the off-side or leg-side, will be called a wide.
  • A delivery that passes behind the batsman will also be called a wide unless it is played at.

Rain-Interrupted Matches:

• Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) Method:
  • If rain interrupts the match and it cannot be completed under normal circumstances, the DLS method is used to calculate a revised target score.
  • For the DLS method to apply, each team must have played a minimum of 20 overs.
  • If less than 20 overs per team have been played and the match cannot resume, it is declared a no-result, unless otherwise decided by the league’s specific rules.

Player Conduct and Discipline:

• Code of Conduct:
  • Players are expected to adhere to the ICC Code of Conduct. This includes upholding the spirit of the game, showing respect to opponents and officials, and avoiding any behavior that could bring the game into disrepute.
  • Any breach of conduct, such as dissent towards umpires, using offensive language, or excessive appealing, is subject to disciplinary action by the BCL committee.
• Penalties for Misconduct:
  • The BCL has the authority to impose fines, suspensions, or even bans depending on the severity of the misconduct.
  • Repeat offenders may face harsher penalties, and team captains can also be held responsible for their team's behavior on the field.

Umpiring and Match Officials:

• Neutral Umpires:
  • Matches are officiated by neutral umpires appointed by the BCL to ensure fair play.
  • Umpires have the final say on all decisions, including dismissals, wides, no-balls, and boundary calls.
• No Decision Review System (DRS):
  • Unlike international matches, the BCL does not implement a Decision Review System (DRS). This means that all decisions made by the on-field umpires are final and cannot be reviewed.

Scoring and Results:

• Winning Criteria: The team that scores the most runs in their allotted 50 overs wins the match.
• Tie Situations:
  • If both teams score an equal number of runs, the match is declared a tie, and points are shared accordingly.
  • If league-specific rules dictate, a Super Over may be used to break the tie.
• Points System:
  • In league matches, teams are awarded points for wins, ties, and no-results. The points system determines the standings in the league table.

BANGKOK CRICKET LEAGUE – LOCAL PLAYING CONDITIONS

The Toss.

In accordance with tradition, the home team captain shall toss and the away team captain shall call for choice of innings. For this purpose the team named first in the fixtures list shall be considered the home team. The Umpire does not need to accompany the Captains and supervise the toss. It is preferred though teams should not wait for the umpire to be present to do the coin toss at the scheduled time. Captains should be in proper attire for the toss. Both the teams must have seven players ready to take the field when the toss is done. Once the toss is done, the toss winning captain must tell his decision immediate after the toss to umpires and opposition captain. Once the decision is made, it can’t be changed.
Captains are required to submit a completed team sheet with full names of all players to the umpires prior to the coin toss or prior to the start of play.

Match Balls.

Premier Division – Match Balls to be used as supplied by the BCL. New ball for each innings.
In the event of a ball becoming wet and soggy because of surface water on the ground, or a ball becoming significantly discolored and in the opinion of the Umpires, unfit for play, the ball may be replaced with a ball that has had a similar amount of wear provided it is not out of shape. Teams must have a supply of extra match balls at each game. Either batsman may raise the matter with Umpires, and the Umpires decision as to the replacement or otherwise will be final.
The Umpire shall retain possession of the match ball (s) throughout the duration of the match when play is not actually taking place.

Attire.
All players are requested to be suitably attired for all games.

• Colored cricket shirt and colored cricket pants are requested.
• Full colored clothing is allowed
• No spiked footwear should be worn on any artificial playing surface. Metal spikes and Rubber detachable spikes are not allowed on any artificial playing surface.

Helmets.
All players are advised that the wearing of helmets is highly recommended as a safety aspect of the game.

• All players under 18 years of age or any Female player must wear a helmet when batting and wicket keeping and shall not be allowed to be a fielder within 6 meters in front of the batsman.
• BCL strongly recommends that all players are to a wear a helmet when batting.
• This means all batsman must wear helmets. (Please help to see BCL Helmet Rule)
• All wicket keepers standing up to the wickets MUST wear a helmet

 

Umpires.
The Bangkok Cricket League will endeavor to supply at least one umpire per game throughout the season.
If no umpire is present, both teams should supply umpires who should be competent and umpire within the spirit of the game and with a view of being neutral towards both teams.

Man of Match Awards
A Man of the Match award will be given to a player at the end of each match. This decision will be made by the umpires present at the game however the umpires may consult captains for opinions if they wish. In the result where no umpires are present, both captains should come to an agreeance as to who the award shall be given to. If no award is present, please contact the League co-ordinator after the game. The award does not have to be awarded to a member of the winning side, it can come from either side in the view of the officials.


Scoring.

It is the responsibility of each team Captain to provide a scorer who is cognizant of the fundamentals of cricket. At the end of each innings the captains and umpires are to check, agree and sign the score books or electronic scoring devises.A final score including runs scored and wickets lost must be agreed on and signed off. Teams must sign and email their score summary sheets (i.e., Both teams) to the present Bangkok Cricket League Statistitian within 7 days following each match. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of points from the league table.

 

Results and League Points :

Points System

ALL DIVISIONS

• Win = 2 points
• Draw / Tie = 1 point
• No Result = 1 point
• Abandoned /Cancelled Match = 1 point.

Preliminary Rounds.

At the conclusion of preliminary rounds of matches for all divisions, placing for teams entering finals will be determined as follows

• Team with the highest league points will be placed at the number 1 spot in the table and table position determined as such.

Where teams finish with equal points, the following will determine placings.

• Team with the best Net Run Rate will be deemed the higher placed team
• Net Run Rate defined as the below and noted by % on the Points Table.

A team’s net run rate is calculated by deducting from the average runs per over scored by that team throughout the competition, the average runs per over scored against that team throughout the competition.
In the event of a team being all out in less than its full quota of overs, the calculation of its net run rate shall be based on the full quota of overs to which it would have been entitled and not on the number of overs in which the team was dismissed.

Finals Rounds.

Premier Divisions

• Semi Final – Team #2 Vs Team #3 (Winner proceeds to Final. Loser eliminated)
• Final – Team #1 Vs Team #2 (Winner of Elimination Final)

Finals Matches (Results)

• Grand Final - if no result or a tie is determined in this game, the team having the higher position in the league table at the end of the preliminary games will be declared the winner. The Duckworth-Lewis method will be used if required to determine a result in the Grand Final. 20 overs minimum per team constitutes a game. A reserve day will be set aside for the Grand Final if the original scheduled date cannot be started.

 

SEASON 2024-2025 QUALIFICATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS :

PREMIER DIVISION FINALS

• To qualify to play in the Premier Division Finals’ Series (after League games) , 7 players of the intended team of 11 must have played or have been listed to play 4 games in Premier Division while the remaining members of the finals playing team must have played or have been listed to play 2 games in Premier Division

SEASON 2024-2025 RESTRICTIONS

PREMIER DIVISION

• Once a player plays 4 or more games in Premier Division which will include preliminary games, semi finals or finals, then that player will not be eligible to play in any lower division matches

• Any request to deviate away from the above must be in writing and submitted to the Bangkok Cricket League coordinator prior to any games and this request must be approved prior to the games.

 

 

We believe that these new rules will contribute to a more competitive and engaging cricket season for all teams involved. Your cooperation in adhering to these rules is highly appreciated, as it ensures a level playing field and adds an element of excitement to the league.

Best wishes for a successful and thrilling season ahead!