CPL 2023
Trinbago Knight Riders become first team to receive ‘Red Card’ in CPL
|| CF DESK ||
Trinbago Knight Riders became the first cricket team to receive a red card on Sunday, with Sunil Narine paying the penalty for his team's slow overs-rate in a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match.
This season, CPL organizers implemented a number of measures to combat slow-over rates, including a red card for a fielding side found to be behind schedule at the commencement of the final over of an innings.
The consequence implies that a team loses a captain's choice and must have six fielders inside the circle.
Slow over-rates have plagued the game, with matches frequently running past their allotted time. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed fines on international teams that fall behind schedule in all three forms, as well as docked World Test Championship points.
The Knight Riders were left with 10 men for the final over their match against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots but still prevailed by six wickets, their first victory in three matches.
Narine had finished his four overs with figures of 24-3, when he was pulled for the final over of the Patriots' innings, which yielded 18 runs.
Nicholas Pooran's 61 off 32 balls lay the groundwork for the Knight Riders' victorious chase, which was completed with 17 balls remaining at Warner Park in Basseterre by skipper Kieron Pollard (37) and Andre Russell (23).
Pollard was unhappy with the overs-rate penalty.
"To be honest, it will take away the hard work everyone has done," he said. "We are like the pawns and we are going to do what we are told.
"We are going to play as fast as we can. If you are penalised for 30-45 seconds in a tournament like this, it is absolutely ridiculous."