The Indian Premier League has fixed a five-minute period, split into two equal halves, for the mandatory strategic time-outs during the third edition of the Twenty20 event starting March 12.
"The fielding team would have to take the 2 and a half minute time-out mandatory between the 6th and 8th overs while the batting rpt batting side would have to take the time-out between the 11th and 16th overs," IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said in Mumbai on Thursday .
Modi said the decision to specify the overs for taking the mandatory stoppages, lasting 2.5 minutes each, had been arrived at after having had a look at the time-outs in other games like basketball and American football (NFL).
"We have found out that these are the times the batting and fielding teams normally rearrange their strategies. The players will not leave the field of play but would confer in the middle," he said.
Explaining further Modi said the fielding rpt fielding side can opt for time-outs anytime after the fifth, sixth or seventh over while the batting rpt batting team can do so after the end of the 10th to 15th overs after informing their desire to take it.
"We have a new partner for strategic time-outs, Maxx Mobile, and the deal is for three years from season three commencing on March 12," Modi announced, adding "they will also be our official playoff partner", without specifying the financial details. PTI
