Philippine Cricket League Rules

1. MCC Rules of cricket are followed except where otherwise stipulated.

2. Prior to the commencement of the season each team must submit to the PCA a list of all their registered players. Teams will be able to add to this list during the course of the season.

3. Each team entering is required, before the start of a game, to submit, to the organizers, a list of their nominated 11 players.
No player nominated in one team may play for any other team in the same division of the league, without prior permission from the PCA Management Committee.

A team playing in Division 2 may only include in their chosen 11 up to 3 players who are classed as Division 1 players. A Division 1 player shall be any player who played four (4) or more games in Division 1 during the previous season. Exemptions may be granted by PCA as listed in Appendix A - Player Reclassification.

4. One player from each team will act as Captain for the duration of the competition, even though he may not necessarily play in each match. On match days the Captain’s (or their nominated deputy) responsibilities will be:
• Nominating eleven (11) players for every game of the team.
• Ensuring that players full names are recorded in the scorebook
• Time keeping.
• Conduct of his team.
• Acting on their behalf in the case of disputes

5. Unless there is a PCA Management Committee member present the umpire will be in charge of the games each day. His/her decision on any point of dissention shall be absolutely final.

6. The game is played for 20 over’s. No bowler may bowl more than 4 overs.

7. All teams must wear an approved uniform.

8. White batting pads will not be permitted. These covered by coloured clads.

9. The structure of Finals matches for Division 1 and Division 2 shall include every participating team, with listed structure set out in Appendix B - Finals Structure.

10. If a player is unable to complete an over due to injury it must be completed by another member of the team, and regardless of the number of balls will be considered to be a completed over.

11. Time limit. The first bowling side must complete their 20 overs in 1 hour and 20 minutes. If the bowling side does not complete the twenty overs within the stipulated time, the bowling side will only receive when batting that number of completed over’s they bowled in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The side bowling second will also be expected to bowl their 20 overs in no more than one hour and 20 minutes. Failure to do so will result in the following penalties.

A. If only 19 overs are completed the Captain will receive a formal warning and should there be a repetition during the course of the season he will be suspended for one PCL game.
B. If only 18 or less than overs are completed the Captain will be suspended for the teams next game.

The Umpires will be the final decision makers and will take account of any lost time due to injuries or lost balls, which if adjudged shall be notified to the fielding captain and the batsman at the crease prior to the restarting of the next delivery.

12. There will be a 10 minute break between innings. There will be no drinks breaks.

13. Under-arm bowling is strictly prohibited.

14. Runs and extras are scored in accordance with the laws of cricket with the following exceptions:
a. WIDES:
Any leg side ball will be called as wide.
Off side wides shall be called at the discretion of the umpire.

b. NO-BALLS:
A NO BALL shall count as 1 extra to the batting side and an extra ball shall be bowled. Runs scored from a NO BALL (off the bat, byes or leg byes) will be credited, in addition to the 1 extras for the NO BALL.

The normal rules will apply to the call of “NO BALL”. If after delivery, the ball is then considered WIDE, the call of “NO BALL” takes precedence and therefore the ball remains live.
Any ball which, after bouncing, passes the batsman above shoulder height in his normal stance, or would have passed him above shoulder height if it strikes the batsman’s bat or body, shall be called a NO BALL by either umpire.

Any ball which, having not bounced after leaving the bowler’s hand, passes the batsman above waist height in their normal stance, or would have passed him above waist height if it had not struck the batman’s bat or body, shall be called a NO BALL by the bowling end umpire.

The ball remains live after the call of NO BALL.

c. MANKAD: A mankad style dismissal of a batsman trying to steal a run is permissible, provided that a warning to that batsman has already been given in that match.

15. A batsman must retire not out on reaching a personal score of 50 runs in Division 2, but may return to continue his innings if one of the last pair of batsmen is out before the completion of 20 over’s. The batsman may complete all runs possible off the shot which takes him to or past the 50 e.g. if on 48 he then hits a boundary, the full score will be added, or if he is able to run additional runs past 50 they will also count. Retired batsmen must return to the crease in their original batting order.

16. A batsman cannot retire before reaching the retirement score, except through injury.
If a batsman is injured during the game, a runner may be used subject to the umpire’s approval.
A substitute may be allowed to bowl only if the opposing Captain agrees and if the player he is replacing has not already bowled and to bat if the said player has not batted.

In the case of a wicketkeeper being injured, he maybe substituted, but this substitute cannot be allowed to bowl.

If all the fielders are not on the field, when a game commences, then the player(s) arriving late can only enter the field of play after the over in progress has been completed.

17. The game is won by the side having the highest score after the completion of the game. If the total scores are the tied:
In league matches both teams will be awarded 1point regardless of the number of wickets lost.
If a tie occurs during the knockout stages:
The side losing the fewest wickets is judged the winner.
In the event of both teams losing the same number of wickets, the side which has scored the most runs from the bat (i.e. total runs less all extras) will be adjudged the winner.

18. At the end of each match points will be awarded in the following manner:
Two (2) points will be awarded to the winning side.
One (1) point will be awarded to both sides in the event of a tie in a . league game.
1 (1) point will be awarded to each team if games are abandoned or . cancelled due to bad weather.
Zero 0 points will be awarded to the losing side.
Zero (0) points will be awarded to any team forfeiting a game, via a notified forfeit, as listed in Appendix C - Points Deduction & Forfeiture Procedures.

19. In the event of the total number of points being equal, in any table, on completion of all fixtures, the superior position will be decided by using the following criteria in order:
• The team with the superior run rate as shown on the Cric HQ Scoring App.
• Dividing the number of runs scored in all games played by the number of wickets taken.

In the event of a tie in a play-off round (i.e. semi or final), the team losing the fewest wickets will be declared the winner.

In the event of both teams losing the same number of wickets, the side which has scored the most runs from the bat (i.e. total runs less all extras) wins.

20. All equipment shall comply with M.C.C. Laws of Cricket. Cricket balls will be supplied by the organizing committee.

21. Where possible neutral umpires will adjudicate each game.

22. Decisions by the umpires on the field of play, and the management committee member in other matters are final. All players and officials will be expected to comply with the PCA Code of Conduct.

23. Night Matches
Any game commencing after 6pm will be classified as a night match.
In respect of night games only, there will be a restriction on a bowlers run up. A bowler must start his run up with at least one foot on the mat. Failure to do so will result in the call of NO Ball.
A white ball will be used for all night games.

24. Rain affected Matches
A game will be declared abandoned and one point given to each side if a minimum of eight (8) overs per side can not be completed.
Rain effected league games will not be re-played. Only playoff games will be re-played.
Abandonment of games will be at the discretion of the Umpires.

25. Scorers
The PCA will provide a scorer.

26. Filipino nationals
All teams playing in Division 2 will be required to play a Filipino national /Passport holder in all matches.
Failure to do so will result in a deduction of 1 point per game, with the team required to play with only 10 if the match is in the Finals.
Filipino national / passport holders cannot include any individual who has played for the national team

27. Finals Eligibility

All players playing in finals matches must have been named in the playing XI in a round match for their team during the season.

NOTE: The PCA reserves the right to amend the Rules at any time if it considers such action to be in the best interests of the competition.

Appendices

Appendix A - Player Reclassification

A player may request for removal of their Division 1 status provided the following conditions are met;

* The player must in writing (via letter, email or text message) formally request the reclassification of their status to the Tournament Director or a current member of the PCA Management Committee.

* The player must not have played in any matches during the current PCL season regardless of Division.

* Should the application be accepted, this should be noted in writing & the player that has been reclassified shall not be permitted to play in any Division 1 matches during the season.

* All team captains shall be informed of a decision to reclassify a player in a reasonable amount of time by PCA Management and/or the PCL Tournament Director.

Appendix B - Finals Structure

Division 1 Finals
CUP FINALS
The top 4 teams after the Round Matches shall qualify for the Cup Finals as Follows;
Major Semi Final - 1 vs 2
Minor Semi Final - 3 vs 4
Final - Loser of Major Semi Final vs Winner of Minor Semi Final
Grand Final - Winner of Major Semi Final vs Winner of Final

SHIELD FINALS
Play-in Match 8 vs 9
Semi Finals - 5 vs Winner of Play-in & 6 vs 7
Grand Final - Winners of Semi Finals

Division 2 Finals
Qualifier Finals - 4 vs 5 & 3 vs 6

Semi Finals - 1 vs Lowest ranked Qualifier Winner & 2 vs Highest ranked Qualifier winner.

Grand Final - Winners of Semi Finals

SHIELD FINALS
Semi Finals - 7 vs 10 & 8 vs 9
Grand Final - Winners of Semi Finals

Appendix C - Points Deduction & Forfeiture Procedures

Teams shall be deducted points or penalties for the following;

* Coin toss to be done thirty (30) minutes before scheduled match start time, with playing XI named before the toss. Should a team not be able to do a coin toss with less than fifteen (15) minutes before the match, the team ready to do a coin toss shall elect to bat or bowl. Should the match start late due to one team not being able to take the field that team shall have overs deducted from their batting innings equivalent to one (1) over for each four (4) minute time bracket up to half an hour past the scheduled start time.

* More than three (3) Division 1 players playing in any Division 2 match, one (1) point deduction per player above the three (3) player limit.

* Playing a Reclassified player in any Division 1 match, one (1) point deduction per player.

* Failure to field a Filipino National as per rule 26.

* Playing with a player using an assumed name - one (1) point.

* Playing a player currently suspended by PCA or any other cricket National Governing Body recognized by the ICC - three (3) points.

* Forfeit without notice - any match forfeited without a minimum of seven (7) days notice shall result in a one (1) point deduction to the forfeiting team, any team unable to field seven (7) players before half an hour after scheduled start time has passed shall be adjudged a forfeit without notice.
Notified Forfeit Procedure;

* In the event of unforeseen circumstances should a team be unable to field seven (7) players the team captain should send the Tournament Director notice in writing no later than 7 days before the match, should this happen the team will receive no points deduction and be awarded zero (0) points for a forfeit loss, with the opposing team receiving two (2) points for a forfeit win.

* Should a team forfeit whether notified or not, the team scheduled to play against this side shall receive full rights to use the ground for the duration of their scheduled time. Umpires and scorers will not be provided by PCA in event of a forfeit, however two (2) new balls shall be provided to the team should they use the allotted time at the ground.