The Board of Control for Cricket in India has abolished the Impact Player rule from the national domestic Twenty20 competition Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Of course, most parts of this development were expected, though this decision goes against the BCCI’s insistence on including it in the forthcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The BCCI recently told the IPL franchises that the rule would be kept intact for the next season of the IPL.

The BCCI on Monday evening communicated the decision of the SMAT to the state association. The Syed Mushtaq Ali will now start across the country from November 23. It will run till December 15. In a short communication, the BCCI said, “Kindly note that the BCCI has decided to do away with the provision of ‘Impact Player’ for the ongoing season.”

The Impact Player rule was introduced to the SMAT on an experimental basis a few seasons back, thus and as everybody would have anticipated, adopted in the IPL as well. It did indeed add excitement for the broadcasters, as it turned the league into a massive visual spectacle with high totals posted and chased; however, it didn’t exactly resonate well with the players.

It also was against the interest of the competition for many captains and coaches; it also adversely affected the development of all-rounders, as teams started preferring specialist batters and bowlers over all-round players.