1. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

To be eligible to play, all players must be registered with the association at least seven (7) days before the first scheduled game of the season and at least three (3) days before the other games. Registration must be done in writing by sending a list of names to the Corresponding Secretary with a copy to the Vice President.

If the registration is by mail, the registration date shall be the date it was mailed as evidenced by the postmark. If registration is by fax, hand or E-mail, the registration date shall be the date received. The last date of registration is the 30th of June 2001. Any points gained by a club, which violates this rule, shall be forfeited and the points awarded to the opposing team. If a player is registered by more than one club, such player shall be considered a registered player for the first team he plays for. The other registration is then null and void.

UNDECLARED PLAYERS

A) The captain, upon suspicion that a player of the opposing team is not the person declared on the umpires report card or on any other medium on which the opposing captain declared his team, can request of the umpires that the suspended player present identification in the form of a divers license, passport, employees photo I.D. or any other identification with the players' names and photograph to the umpire in the presence of both captains. All adult players should carry a picture I.D.

B) If the umpires agree that the I.D. does not match the names submitted, the following penalty shall apply.

1) If discovered before the game start, that player will not be allowed to play. If his captain insists on playing him, the umpire shall call off the game and award the points to the non-offending team.

2) If discovered during the game, the umpire shall call the game and award the game to the non-offending team.

3) If discovered after the game, the non-offending team may file a protest with the protest committee and present credible evidence. A team is allowed only two challenges at a game. If it loses the first challenge it may not bring another challenge at the game. The decision of the umpire is final.

C) In addition to the penalty above, any player found guilty of said conduct shall be automatically suspended for the next three games. Nothing stated above shall affect the right of a team to file a protest within 7 days, if it believes that the opposing team used an unregistered player.

2. PLAYERS RELEASE

Once the season starts, any player who wishes to change clubs shall obtain a release in writing from his present club prior to June 30, 2001. This must be done whether the player previously played in the Metropolitan League or another league. A copy of the said release shall be sent with the registration for his new club. If a player is denied a release, he may apply to the Executive Committee for a hearing.

3. DEBARRED PLAYERS

A player must have played at least five (5) regular season league games with one club to be eligible to participate in the playoffs or finals. In the case of a protest, eligibility may be proven by the score sheets submitted to the league or the scorebook of the club or its opponents. The 12th, man is recognized as a member of the team.

4. PREPARATION OF WICKETS AND GROUNDS

Clubs are responsible to ensure that their wickets are properly prepared, boundaries clearly marked and the circle marked. Umpires shall examine the wicket, the grounds and the circle and decide whether they are fit to play.

5. UMPIRES

Only umpires sanctioned by the league may umpire league games. Each club shall pay a base fee of $55.00, no later than at the break between innings. The Executive Committee shall publish a fee schedule for the umpires. Teams that are late or do not show are still required to pay the usual umpire dues.

6. INCLEMENT WEATHER NOTIFICATION

All teams must be at the venue of the game to determine whether play is possible or not, except that, in the case of inclement weather, when the home or away team is in Philadelphia or Poughkeepsie, the President or Captain of the home team shall notify the contact person (on the leagues mailing list) of the visiting team no later than 9:30 A.M. on the day of the game that play is not possible. The President or Captain of the home team shall notify the umpire coordinator of the league. Failure of the home team to inform the coordinator on time shall make them liable to pay umpire(s) that show up for the game.

7. CONDUCT OF PLAYERS, CLUB MEMBERS, UMPIRES, SPECTATORS

a) Exemplary behavior shall be maintained by all club members at all games. It is the responsibility of the participating clubs to ensure that no umpire or player is harassed, intimidated or assaulted. The participating teams shall use their best efforts to ensure the safety and proper behavior of the spectators. Violation of this rule may result in disciplinary action against players, and or clubs.

b) In accordance with Law 42 # 13 (Laws of Cricket), in the event that a player fails to comply with an umpire's instruction during a game, show dissent in any way, or behaves in a manner, which is likely to bring the game into disrepute, the umpires shall consult with each other and then with the captain of the offending player(s). The umpire shall immediately issue a warning. If the offending behavior continues the umpire(s) may terminate the game, resulting in forfeiture against the offending team. The umpires shall file a report with the Corresponding Secretary of the League.

c) All clubs and spectators shall adhere to the Rules and Regulations of the Parks Department governing the grounds. Taunting is not allowed in this league. Taunting shall include mocking, insulting or making sarcastic or inciting statements to any player or umpire.

8. RESHEDULED GAMES

No games shall be rescheduled without the approval of the Executive Committee. Clubs requesting to reschedule a game shall present to that committee the written consent of the other team and an agreed upon date in writing, signed by a representative of each team, on which the game will be played.

9. BALLS

The cricket balls are standardized. All teams shall use only the balls approved by the league. Each team shall give an umpire one ball at the time the names of the players are submitted.

10. TEAMS DISBANDING

Any result obtained against a team that later withdraws from the competition shall be counted. All remaining games in which that team does not show shall be awarded to the opponent.

11. POINTS SYSTEM

WIN 5 pts: DRAW 2 pts: TIE 2 1/2 pts: LOSS 0 pts: ABANDONED 0 pts.

12. REPORTS

Score sheets with the information for each game shall be submitted to the Corresponding Secretary no later than 5 days after each game. A $5.00 fine for each violation may be enforced by the Executive Committee and the players of the offending team may not qualify for league awards.

13. DRESS CODE

Players are to be properly attired in conventional cricket garments. No turf pegs or spikes are permitted. No bowler shall be allowed to bowl with jewelry or anything around either wrist. Jewelry around the neck must be tucked in under the shirt while bowling. No bowler shall be allowed to bowl with any tape or attachment on his bowling fingers. All substitutes shall be dressed in full cricket attire.

14 PLAYING RULES

All clubs and players are notified that there are several new and revised sections of the 2000 code for cricket that will be applied by umpires during 2001 cricket season. See Article X, Section 2, Page II of the Leagues Constitution.

1. PLAYING CONDITIONS AND HOURS OF PLAY

A) Each game shall consist of one inning per team of 40 overs or less and shall be completed in one day.

B) Normal hours of play shall be as follows:
1:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The normal cutoff time is 4:00 p.m. As of September 1, the normal hours of play shall be 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a cutoff time of 3:00 p.m. This means that the fielding team is allotted until that time to bowl a maximum of forty overs. If this is not done then the fielding team will be penalized as per Rule 2b. Notwithstanding Rule 1(B), there shall be a break of 15 minutes between innings.

C) There shall be two (2) drink breaks per session. Drink breaks should be kept as short as possible, and in any case should not exceed 5 minutes. In case of extreme heat, an extra drink break may be taken with the approval of the umpires.

D) Any team not ready to play at the scheduled starting time shall be penalized 1 over for every 5 minutes of lateness until 1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. after September 1) after which the other team shall have the option of claiming the game or giving the other team more time to field a team.
No points shall be awarded for any game starting after 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. after September 1) unless a minimum of 25 overs was allotted for each team.

E) In the event of time being lost because of lateness of the umpire(s) or activities at the park not due to the fault of either team, the umpires shall reduce the number of overs in the game at the rate of 4 minutes an over and calculate the allotted time for each inning taking into consideration the water break(s) and a break between innings.

F) Teams travelling from Poughkeepsie to Philadelphia and vice versa, shall have the same starting time as above, but will be allowed a starting time of no later than 2:15 p.m. in cases of emergencies. The number of overs shall be adjusted as in 1-E above and 2-E below.

2. LENGTH OF INNINGS

A) Each team is entitled to bat for 40 overs unless another amount of overs has been set by the umpires or they have been bowled out before.

B) If the team fielding first fails to complete their overs in the allotted time, that team shall continue to bowl until the overs have been completed. However, when that team comes to bat they will be allowed to bat the number of overs they had bowled in the allotted time.

C) If the team batting first is dismissed for less than the allotted number of overs the team batting second shall be entitled to bat for the allotted number of overs.

D) If the team fielding second has not bowled the allotted number of overs by 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m.), the hours of play shall be extended by the umpires if in their opinion the light is good and a finish can be obtained.

E) In games where the start is delayed, as in (1E) or where play has been interrupted, the objective should always be to re-arrange the number of overs so that both teams have the opportunity to bat the same amount of overs with a minimum of 25 overs for each team. The number of overs to be bowled shall be based on an average rate of 15 overs per hour in the time remaining before close of play at 7:30 p.m./6:30 p.m.

F) In games where play is suspended in the innings of the team batting first, the calculation of the number of overs to be bowled shall be as per (2E).

G) The team batting second shall not bat for a greater number of overs than the team that batted first unless the team that batted first was bowled out in less than the agreed number of overs as in (2C).

3. FIELD RESTRICTIONS

At the instant of delivery, there may be no more than five (5) fieldsmen on the on side. If this rule is violated, either umpire shall call and signal No Ball.

4. SUBSTITUTES

A substitute shall be allowed to field only for a player who satisfies the umpires that he has been injured or became ill during the game. In exceptional circumstances, a substitute may be allowed, subject to the consent of the opposing captain, for an uninjured player who has to leave the field or for a player who does not take the field.

A player who suffers an injury caused by an external blow, as opposed to an internal injury, such as a pulled muscle, and has to leave the field for medical attention, may, subject to the umpires approval, bowl immediately after his return, irrespective of the length of time he was absent off the field.

5. THE RESULT

a) A result can be achieved only if both teams have batted for at least 15 overs unless one team was all out in less than 15 overs or the team batting second scores enough runs to win in 15 overs or less.

b) All games in which one or both teams have not had the opportunity of batting a minimum of 15 overs shall be declared a draw.

c) Scheduled games in which no balls have been bowled are considered abandoned. Abandoned games shall not be rescheduled.

b In games where both teams have had opportunity of batting for the agreed upon number of overs, the team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner.

e) If both teams have scored the same amount of runs in the same amount of overs, the following shall apply:
I The team losing the lesser amount of wickets shall be the winner.
II If both teams are all out, the team with the higher scoring rate (runs divided by overs) shall be the winner.
III If the team batting second has not had the opportunity to complete the agreed upon number of overs, has not been bowled out, nor has passed the opponents score, the team with the higher run rate shall be the winner.

6. If due to suspension of play, the overs of the team batting second has to be revised, their target score shall be calculated as follows:

I The average run rate of the team that batted first multiplied by the reduced number of overs.
If the team that batted first is all out in less than their allotted overs, the calculation of their run rate shall be based on the total allotted overs to which they were entitled to bat and not the amount of overs that they batted.

7. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO START A GAME

The minimum number of players a team needs to start a game is seven (7). If a team cannot find at least seven players to start a game, the game shall be awarded to the other team, provided that the other team had at least seven players ready to play. The captain of each team shall declare in writing, the names of twelve (12) players to the umpires and the opposing captain before the toss of the coin. One player shall be designated as the 12th man who is not allowed to bowl, bat, or keep the wicket. The 12th man must be named on scorebook/sheet, and umpires records. He should also be physically present at the game and be verified by the captains and umpires. Any team utilizing an undeclared player to bat or bowl shall forfeit the game.

8. NO OFFICIAL UMPIRES

If no official umpires are present to officiate at a game, the teams shall select one umpire each and the game shall proceed as an official game.

9. PLAYING IN ANOTHER LEAGUE

A player who has played in another league of the New York Region in 2001 shall not be eligible to play in this league unless he first obtains a release from his former club and his former league and is registered with our league before June 30 of this year. Any player who leaves our league to play in another league in the New York Region 2001 shall not be re-accepted in our league during 2001.

10. DISMISSAL FROM SCHEDULE

Any team that fails to show for three (3) games shall be dismissed from playing schedule and shall not be allowed to participate any further in the competition. Teams failing to show for a game may be fined a maximum of $100.

11 LAYOFFS AND FINALS

The Playoffs and Finals shall commence promptly at 12:00 noon. The normal hours of play shall be:
12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Cut off time is 3:00 p.m.
The league shall pay the umpires and provide balls for all playoff games. The team with the most points shall be the home team.
The league shall pay the umpires and provide balls and food after the game for the League and Division 2 Finals. The league shall select the venue for the Finals.

12 BREAKING THE TIE

If at the end of the competition two or more teams have the same amount of points, the placement of teams shall be based on the following criteria:
1) The number of games won by each team.
2) The won/loss record against each other.
3) The run rate (Runs divided by overs) in the games against each other.
4) The run rate in all games played.

13 INSURANCE

All registered players and umpires are covered for secondary insurance for injuries received during a scheduled league game. A person so injured must make a report to the Insurance Coordinator for the league within 48 hours after the injury was received. If he is covered by other insurance, a player must first make a claim against that other insurance. Players are also covered for property damage (e.g. if he hits a ball during the game that breaks a car window in the parking lot).

13. WEARING OF HELMETS

a) All batsmen shall wear helmets with all its facial protective features.
b) Helmets must also be worn by fielders in close to the striker positions.
c) If the condition of the pitch requires it, the wicketkeeper should wear a helmet while wicketkeeping.
The league shall not be liable for any injuries sustained by a player in violation of this rule.

14. THE CIRCLE

All teams shall have a circle clearly marked on the cricket field. The circle is made by marking two semi-circles, each centered on the middle stump at either end with a radius of thirty (30) yards and joined by two parallel straight lines on either side of the pitch.
In the first 15 overs, at the instant of delivery, there shall not be more than two (2) fielders outside the circle. Thereafter, there shall not be more than five (5) fielders outside the circle.

If there is an infringement, the strikers and umpire shall call and signal No Ball.