The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced that they will be doing away with the Impact Player rule for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT). This decision has been welcomed by many, including Saurashtra head coach Niraj Odedra. However, the contentious rule will still be in place for the next three seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The rule, which was first introduced in the SMAT and later carried to the IPL, has been heavily criticized by players for its impact on the game. The SMAT tournament kicks off on November 23, with the final scheduled for December 15.