As per the IPL Chairman, Lalit Modi, IPL 2010 will have a five-minute period, split into two equal halves, for the mandatory strategic time-outs.

“The batting team would have to take the 2 and a half minute time-out mandatory between the sixth and eighth overs while the fielding side would have to take the time-out between the 11th and 16th overs,” IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said.

“We have found out that these are the times the batting and fielding teams normally rearrange their strategies. The players will not leave the field of play but would confer in the middle,” he said.

“We have a new partner for strategic time-outs, Maxx Mobile, and the deal is for three years from season three commencing on March 12,” Modi announced, adding “they will also be our official playoff partner”, without specifying the financial details.