NEW DELHI — India's cricket board on Monday said a concussion substitute and a third umpire for no balls would be introduced in the upcoming lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

"The concussion substitute and the no-ball rule are new additions for the season," the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly, told the Cricbuzz website.

In August, new rules for concussion substitutes adopted by the International Cricket Council were used for the first time in Test cricket when Australia's Steve Smith was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne during the Ashes.

The introduction of a dedicated official for observing no-balls comes after several run-ins between players and officials with the standard of umpiring questioned.

A TV umpire instead of the on-field official called no-balls during trials in the T20 and one-day series between India and the West Indies in December.

The IPL, which was hit by a spot-fixing scandal in 2013, has emerged as the world's wealthiest league in the sport, with the tournament replicated by other nations such as Australia.

The 2020 edition will begin on March 29 with the final to be played on May 24 in Mumbai, the BCCI added. — AFP