India skipper Virat Kohli had recently spoken about the need to remove the soft signal when referring to a decision to the third-umpire and this point has been discussed by the BCCI as they have done away with soft signals for the IPL 2021.
No Soft Signal in IPL 2021
Going by reports on Saturday, March 27, the BCCI has made changes to Appendix D – Clause 2.2.2 of the playing conditions for the IPL. The clause states the rule regarding the soft signal.
Here’s how the BCCI has updated the ‘soft signal’ rule for IPL 2021: “Soft Signal: On-field Umpire giving Soft Signal while referring the decision to the 3rd Umpire will not be applicable.” Sources, privy to the development, told that the soft signal creates confusion.
“There have been cases wherein the soft signal has kind of created confusion rather than giving clarity to the third umpire and that is why it was felt that going back to the old method of referring decisions to the third umpire if the on-field umpires are not sure should be followed,” a source told ANI.
Kohli insist to remove Soft Signal
During India’s five-match home T20I series against England, the rule created some ruckus.
In the fourth game in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav was given out after the third umpire didn’t find ‘conclusive evidence’ to go against the on-field umpire’s soft signal ‘Out’. Dawid Malan had taken the catch, which didn’t seem clean to the naked eye.
Earlier Kohli made his feeling apparent about the soft call saying one need to question if the spirit of the game remains intact with the confusion it creates.
“If it hits the stumps or missing the stumps, it should not matter how much the ball is clipping because it is creating a lot of confusion. One more factor that needs to be considered is how the fielding team responds to a dismissal that is claimed,” Kohli said.
“This is somewhere defining the soft signals as well. You have to question what the spirit of the game is and what those guidelines are because if things like that happen with the Indian cricket team overseas then you are talking about the completely different conversation about the spirit of the game.”
He further added that the lack of clarity over the rules leaves a grey area in the game.
“So look, it is a serious thing which needs to be considered because there is a lot at stake in bigger tournaments. You do not want any grey area hampering the game and it leaves with you no clarity,” he said.
