The debate around the Impact Player rule in the IPL has gained momentum recently. While the rule has shown some positives, it has also attracted criticism from players and experts alike. Now South Africa's SA20 league has decided not to use this rule and former captain Graeme Smith explained the reason behind this. Smith, who is also Cricket South Africa director, has stated that the rule hampers with the balance of the game and also diminishes the importance of all-rounders, making the game less understandable for newer viewers. In his Betway Insider Column, Smith wrote: “The Impact Player rule has been a hot topic of conversation, and it certainly has its pros and cons. It introduces another local player into the game, so that’s a benefit for Indian talent getting exposed at the IPL level, but I think it takes a little bit of the nuance away from captaincy, and the all-rounders are getting upset because it means their roles are less pivotal." Also Read | Why is Mohammed Shami Not in Team India? Ganguly Questions Selectors Focus on All-Rounders and Simple Cricket SA20 is in its nascent stage and looks to attract new spectators. Smith admitted that the league is unwilling to introduce unnecessary complications to the game for now. “We’ve chosen to stay away from it at this early stage of the Betway SA20 because we’re trying to introduce a whole new audience to the game, and you also don’t want to complicate an already complicated sport for a new fan.” Developing all-rounders in South Africa is another key reason for excluding the rule. In the past, the country has produced elite all-rounders like Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis, a legacy Smith aims to rebuild. Smith explained: “South African cricket found itself needing to develop all-arounders after having them in abundance with players like Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis. We’re now starting to see guys develop again, like Marco Jansen, who’s an incredible talent." He also noted that fan expectations differ from one country to another. While high-scoring games interest Indian fans, the Impact Player rule complements this notion. He added: “In India, the fans love high-scoring games, and you probably see that in the TV ratings when it gets near a 200-run chase. After 16 or 17 years of the IPL, they probably have different ambitions to us." SA20 will continue without the Impact Player rule, while it is expected to remain in place in the IPL at least until the next mega auction.