Hardik Pandya becomes last casualty of slow over-rate policy as BCCI introduces new demerit points system for IPL 2025

BCCI has decided to impose demerit points for poor player behaviour, slow over rate and all other trangessions, according to multiple media reports. The most impact of this decision will be felt on franchise captains who will now be penalized with demerit points and bans being enforced only in extreme cases.

Notably, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya will not be able to captain his side for the first match of IPL 2025 as he will be facing a 1 match ban to make up for the slow over rate by his team in the last edition.

BCCI informed think tanks of all 10 teams that there will no match bans for slow over rates during the captains and managers meeting at the BCCI office on Thursday, Cricbuzz reported.

This is a similar system employed by the ICC with the world cricket governing body assigning demerit points to captains depending on the severity of the offence with these points being carried over till 3 years.

“A Level 1 offence will lead to deduction of 25 to 75 percent match fees with demerit points which will be calculated for next three years. Level 2 offence if serious will result in four demerit points.” a report by news agency PTI quoted BCCI source as saying.

“For every four demerit points accumulated, the match referee can impose a penalty, either in the form of a 100 percent fine or additional demerit points. These demerit points could convert into a match ban in the future but for slow overrate there won’t be a match ban,” the report added.