ICC Rules on Concussion Substitutes Under Scrutiny After India-England T20I Controversy
In the fourth T20I of the five-match series against England, held in Pune on Friday, India secured a commanding victory, clinching the series 3-1 with one match to spare. However, a controversy arose regarding Harshit Rana's inclusion as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube.
Making his debut for India, Harshit Rana played a crucial role in the match, taking three wickets at a key moment and contributing significantly to the team's win. However, former England cricketers expressed their displeasure over his inclusion as a concussion substitute.
According to the concussion substitute rule, a player who sustains a concussion can only be replaced by another player with a similar role. The controversy stemmed from the fact that while Shivam Dube is a batting all-rounder who occasionally bowls, Harshit Rana is a specialist bowler.
Reports indicate that England captain Jos Buttler was also dissatisfied with the decision. Although he raised concerns with the on-field umpires, the ruling ultimately favored India. After the match, Buttler addressed the issue, stating:
"This replacement was not appropriate, and we strongly disagree with it. We were not consulted about it at all. When I came in to bat, I asked why Harshit was fielding, and they told me he was a concussion substitute. They said the match referee made the decision. We will seek clarity on this from Javagal Srinath."
What Do ICC Rules Say About Concussion Substitutes?
As per ICC regulations, a player can only be substituted if they suffer a concussion. However, the replacement must be a like-for-like player—meaning a batsman can replace a batsman, a bowler can replace a bowler, and an all-rounder can only be replaced by another all-rounder.
The final decision on approving a concussion substitute rests with the ICC match referee, and the opposing team does not have the right to appeal the ruling. In this case, the controversy arose because Shivam Dube, a spin-bowling all-rounder, was replaced by Harshit Rana, a pace bowler.
