1. Playing Times

1. All USCL regular season matches will be 30 overs per innings. Each team will be allowed two hours (excluding a break) complete their innings of 30 overs.

2. All games will begin at 9:00 AM and must finish by 1:30 PM . Second game must start at 2:00 PM and end by 6:30 PM.

3. In case of a rain the games can be cancelled as deemed by Grounds Man and Umpire. If games are delayed because of Dew on the field, then overs will be reduced as per the time lost by the umpires.

2. Toss

1. Team captains should be ready to spin the toss 30 minutes before the scheduled starting time of the match.

2. A team captain or the nominated player on the list can participate in the toss.

3. The team captain or the nominated player, must communicate the decision whether his team is going to bat or bowl first immediately after winning the toss without any further consultation. If the decision is not made immediately after the toss, the other team will be the automatic winner of the toss.

4. Toss can take place as long as the captain or the nominated player has provided the playing eleven to the umpire as stated in Rule

4.1 It s mandatory to have a minimum of seven [7] players on ground at the time of the

toss.

3. Start of Match

1. At least seven [7] members of a team must be at the ground prior to the start of the match based on the game start time. If a team does not have at least seven [7] members properly dressed in Team s Jersey and ready to play at the scheduled start time, that team will be deemed to be "late , and penalties will be applied as per Rules 4.5 and 4.6.

2. In the situation where the match has never begun due to weather or other conditions that is the fault of neither team, there must still be seven [7] members of each team at the ground within thirty [30] minutes of the scheduled start time of the match.

a. If both teams are present, the points will be shared equally (three [3] points each) between the two teams.

b. If neither team is present, no points will be awarded to either team.

c. If only one team is present, that team will be declared the winner of the match and will be awarded six points.

3. A written list of the players taking part in the match must be provided to the Umpires prior to the toss being taken. A copy of the list must also be provided to the umpires at the same time. If the list contains more than eleven [11] names, the playing eleven must be clearly indicated. If the eleven [11] players slated to play in the match are not so indicated, the first eleven players on the list will be assumed to be the starting eleven [11]. If the two lists are not duplicates, the list given to the umpire will be taken to be the official list.

4. Changes to the list of players are permitted before the toss. After the toss, all the changes require approval from the opposing team captain.

5. If one team is late for the match, one over for every four [4] minutes will reduce the number of overs faced by the team that is late, rounded up, and that the start is delayed.

6. If any team forfeits a league game or an innings then the team forfeiting is responsible for paying the umpire fees and field fees.

7. For all games, toss must be completed before or on 8:30 AM for the first match and 1:30 PM for second match. The umpires will enforce to reduce the overs if the team doesn t deliver the first ball by 9:00 AM.

 

4. Delayed, Interrupted & Aborted games

1. In case of Delayed, Interrupted & Aborted game, To constitute a match, a minimum of 10 overs have to be bowled to the team batting second subject to a result not being achieved earlier. Explanation: Both innings of the match should be allocated time for at least 10 overs to be played unless the result is achieved prior to 10 overs bowled in the second innings. Illustration: First inning is reduced to 25 overs due to interruption or delayed start. To constitute a match with a result, second innings can have a maximum of 25 overs to a minimum of 10 overs. 2nd innings should not be started unless there is enough time to bowl at least 10 overs. If the result is achieved prior to bowling 10 overs, the match is considered completed at that time.

2. Game Cancellations: If it is necessary to cancel the match due to extreme weather conditions (rain, dew) at some part of the game day then following rule applies:

a. Every team must be at the field irrespective of rain . Grounds man will decide if the pitch is playable or not.

3. If light or weather conditions make it impossible for the team batting second to complete their innings, the result will be based on each teams' score in their innings at the end of the last over completed before play is suspended, provided the team batting second has played at least 10 overs of their innings.

4. If the number of overs in the second innings is reduced because of a stoppage of play after the innings has begun, or the number of overs in the second innings is reduced prior to the start of the innings,

a. The number of overs will be reduced by a rate of one over for every four minutes or part thereof lost due to the stoppage

b. The new target will be calculated as per the Target Calculation Rules (Appendix H)

c. For the bowlers who have not bowled full quota of their overs at the time of interruption, a revised rate of bowling overs will be in effect as per Rule 11.1 for the remainder of the innings.

5. If light or weather conditions make it impossible to start the game at the scheduled time, then the game can be delayed until 10:00 AM / 3:00 PM in order to play a minimum 20 overs game. The game should start no later than 3:00 PM.

6. In case of delayed or interrupted or reduced overs,

a. the time will be calculated based on four [4] minutes per over, an additional minutes may be added as allowances to complete their allocated overs.

b. In the first innings, the total time lost will be divided equally between the two teams. To maximize the playing time, the calculation will be made to adjust the innings break, power play and bowler quota.

7. Game Call Off; The umpire(s) should consider ground weather and light conditions, before making an agreement to call off the game.

6. Intermissions

1. A maximum of 15 minutes is allowed between innings.

2. One water break during each innings will be of 5 mins each at completion of 15^th Over. Players are allowed to leave the field during these break for restroom usage only .

3. An individual player may be given a drink either on the boundary edge or at the fall of a wicket, on the field, provided that no playing time is wasted. No other drinks shall be taken onto the field without the permission of the umpires.

7. Time Wasting

1. If the team fielding first does not complete their allocated 30 overs in their allocated 2 hours,

a. The number of overs completed when the time expires will be recorded and communicated to the fielding team captain.

b. The team will then continue bowling until 30 overs have been bowled or all batsmen are out.

c. The team batting second will be allowed to score their target run by the same number of overs they bowled in 2 hours. For instance, if the team bowled 27 overs by 2:00 hrs, then the team will be allowed to bat same number of overs (27) but the target run will be the final score plus 1 of the team batting first

2. If the team fielding second does not complete their allocated 30 overs in their allocated 2 hours,

a. The number of overs completed when the time expires will be recorded and communicated to the fielding team captain.

b. For every over from thereon, 5 penalty runs will be awarded to the batting team 3. Umpire will also apply a penalty based on his jurisdiction by considering deliberate time wasting by the teams.

8. Bowling Restrictions

1. Each bowler is allowed to bowl 20% of the overs allocated to each team at the start of the innings.

2. If the start of the match is delayed for reasons beyond the control of the teams and it becomes necessary to reduce the total number of overs in a match prior to the start of the game, Allocation of overs due to recalculation will be distributed equally among 5 bowlers, Where the total overs is not divisible by 5, one additional over shall be allowed to the maximum number per bowler necessary to make up the balance.

3. If the team batting first is all out, any player who didn t have an opportunity to bat for any reason, irrespective of him being on the submitted team list, will not be allowed to bowl.

4. A member of the fielding team who leaves the field of play for any reason while the match continues will not be allowed to bowl on returning to the field for amount of time that he was off the field.

9. Fielding Restrictions

1. Power play allocation will be based on the ICC Standard playing condition. If play is interrupted during an innings and results in reduced overs for the inning, the Powerplay takes immediate effect. For the avoidance of doubt this applies even if the interruption has occurred mid-over.

Illustration: A 30 over innings is interrupted after 5.3 overs and reduced to 22 overs. The new phases are 4+14+4. Therefore, the middle phase fielding restrictions take immediate effect when play resumes and last for a further 11.3 overs.

2. If there are less than 11 fielders on the field, then umpires will apply an inside 30-yard restriction to the fielding team. Illustration: If there are 10 fielders on the field, then only 1 fielder is allowed outside the 30-yard circle during the first power play, 3 fielders during the second power play and 4 fielders during the last power play, and so on.

3. There can be no more than five fielders on the leg side at any time. In case of infringement, then it will be called no ball.

4. If the number of overs is reduced prior to the start of an innings or on the first innings, then power play overs will be calculated based on the table above.

5. A player on the team batting second who was absent on the field of play for any reason while the match continues, and he didn t serve the full quota of time on the field in the first innings will not be allowed to bat.

a. Less than or equal to 90 minutes Will not be allowed to bat until the elapsed time of not on the field or at the fall of 5 wickets.

b. Greater than 90 minutes Will not be able to bat until 90 minutes or at the fall of 5 wickets.

c. Penalty time of 90 minutes or fall of 5 wickets rule will not apply to a player who has an external injury. In case of internal injury for the player, then the player will face the infringement of law and will be penalized as mentioned in (a) & (b) above.

d. If a nominated player fails to field for the entire 1st innings, he will not be allowed to bat in 2nd innings.

e. If a nominated player fails to bat in 1st innings when the team has lost less than 10 wickets and the innings is closed. The player will not be allowed to bowl unless he was injured or retired hurt while batting.

10. Substitutes & Runners

1. Substitute fielders must be properly attired in appropriate USCL approved cricket clothing (the team color jersey).

2. In certain special circumstances, the player can have a runner, provided the League has approved prior to the game.

3. Substitutes should be members of the fielding team s roster. Players from other teams will not be allowed to field as a substitute. Opposite captains and umpires will take necessary action to disallow substitutes in such cases.

10A. Impact & Player

1. One Impact allowed per game.

2. Impact player will replace an existing player as selected by captain for the entire game and replaced player will not be able to return back to the same game .

11. Bouncers & No-Balls

1. A bowler is allowed to bowl one bouncer per over. Any more bouncers in the same over will be called a No ball.

2. A bowler bowling more than one bouncer in an over will be cautioned, any subsequent attempt in the same or any other over by the same bowler will be given final warning and if it happens again, he/she will be suspended immediately from bowling in that innings. For clarification, refer ICC Playing conditions.

3. A bowler deliberately bowling a full pitched ball to injure the batsmen standing upright on the popping crease will be suspended immediately.

4. All no balls will be called for a free hit.

5. For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide ball. For clarification, refer ICC Playing conditions.

12. Wides

1. A guideline for wide marking 17 inches from the inside edge of the return crease should be marked

2. Any offside delivery which in the opinion of the umpire does not give the batsman a reasonable opportunity to score shall be called as wide.

3. All leg side delivery shall be called as wide.

13. Scoring

1. Umpires will advise both the team scorers sit together on the field

2. Umpires and scorers should come into a common understanding, the method of scoring for the game, either USCL approved app or scorebook.

3. At every interval and end of the game, umpires and scorers should tally the main score with individual scores plus team extras

4. In case of a missing scorer by the fielding team, all scores recorded by the batting team will be final.

5. If there is an existence of a scoreboard on the field, the team scoring is responsible to update the scores every 2 overs.

6. In case of mismatch in scoring by home and visiting team, home team score will be the primary data to validate with umpires.

a. Umpires will inform the final score to both captains.

14. Fair Play

1. It shall be unlawful for a player to disrupt play or in any way intimidate Umpires or Players on the field of play.

2. The USCL shall honor no protest of a game involving the following infractions:

a. Player disruption of a game, such as tampering with the matting; disturbing the wicket; and using the bat or any other implements of the game as a weapon whether intentional or not. Such player or players shall be asked, by the standing umpire, to leave the field of play without consultation of the captains.

b. Umpires shall consult with the captains in the case of abusive language to have it stopped. In the event this abusive language persists, that player or players shall be ejected from the field of play, during the game, whether the incident in question takes place on or off the field of play.

c. An Umpire may request a player to leave the field of play if that player is seen drinking any alcoholic beverages or smoking cigarettes or any illegal substance within the playing boundaries of the field; and may stop a Player from further participation in a game if that Player is seen drinking any alcoholic beverages or smoking any illegal substance outside the playing boundaries of the field during game.

d. When a player is suspended/ejected from the game, the team losing the player or players shall not be allowed to use substitutes and shall continue the match shorthanded.

e. If the player refuses to eject himself from the game, the game will be awarded to the opposing team without consulting the captain of the team/player. In such a situation if the team is playing with 7 players and such ejection of a player turns less than 7 players in the field, then the game will be awarded to the opposing team.

f. For more clarification of Level 3 and 4 offenses, Refer ICC Playing Condition Rule 42 Players Conduct.

20. Results

1. The following points system will apply for Matches:

Win 6 points , No result 3 points , Loss No points , Tie 3 points

2. In the event of teams finishing on equal points within their respective Division, the order of finishing will be determined as per CriClubs ranking :

3. Playoff Format: