The Lanka Premier League (LPL) has introduced a new rule called the “power-blast” ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament.
According to this rule, the 16th and 17th overs of each innings will be designated as “power-blast” overs. During this period, teams can have up to four fielders outside the 30-yard circle, compared to the standard two allowed in the first six overs.
This relaxation of fielding restrictions will undoubtedly provide more freedom to the batters, as they will look to capitalize on the opportunity to score big, while captains will need to devise clever bowling plans to counter the onslaught.
Outside the designated power-blast overs, the traditional fielding limitations apply, with a maximum of five fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. The organisers of this league are hoping this rule will make things more interesting.
LPL 2024 Tournament Details
The 2024 edition of the Lanka Premier League will see five franchises battle it out in 20 league matches. The high-stakes phase will follow with three playoffs culminating in the grand finale. Each team will play all other teams twice during the league stage, with the top four progressing to the playoffs.
This season, a new team has joined the tournament – the Dambulla Sixers. This addition comes after Sri Lanka Cricket terminated the previous Dambulla franchise, the Thunders, due to a co-owner’s legal troubles.
When Will LPL 2024 Be Played?
The LPL 2024 is scheduled for July 1 to 21, partially overlapping with the USA’s Major League Cricket (MLC). While the MLC might attract bigger international names due to its financial muscle, the LPL enjoys strong local support and is constantly innovating to keep things interesting, as evidenced by the power-blast rule.