For LPL 2024, SLC looks to replicate ‘impact sub’ success and bring in ‘power blast’
Sri Lanka Cricket is spicing things up in the Lanka Premier League with a new innovation for the upcoming 2024 season. Seemingly inspired by the successful “impact player” rule in the IPL, the LPL is going to introduce “Power Blast,” a special two-over powerplay towards the end of each team’s innings.
This new powerplay adds to the existing traditional powerplay at the beginning of the inning. During these “Power Blast Overs,” which will be played in the 16th and 17th overs, only four fielders will be allowed outside the circle, mimicking an aggressive phase similar to the initial powerplay. This is expected to create a more exciting and high-scoring end to the innings.
Sri Lanka Cricket’s Tournament Director for LPL 2024, Mr. Samantha Dodanwela, explained the rationale behind the rule. “We decided to introduce this innovation in order to create further excitement for the league, which is growing year after year,” he said.
The move clearly shows the LPL following the IPL and other T20 leagues’s trend of introducing new rules to enhance the entertainment value of the shortest format of the game. It will be interesting to see how this new powerplay shapes the strategies of the teams and the overall outcome of the matches in the upcoming LPL season. The LPL 2024 edition will be played from July 1 to July 21.