MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has warned IPL franchises against the dangers of “targeted compromise and honey traps” during the league, while tightening security, access and behavioral protocols involving players, support staff and franchise owners. In a detailed seven-page advisory sent to franchises on Thursday evening, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia warned teams against situations that could lead to “serious legal charges”, including those related to “sexual misconduct”, and asked franchises to remain “vigilant and proactive” at all times.“The BCCI is alerting all franchises to the well-documented risks of targeted compromise and honey traps that pervade high-profile sporting environments. The possibility of incidents leading to serious legal charges, including those under applicable sexual abuse laws, cannot be ruled out. IPL franchise management must remain vigilant and proactive in mitigating these risks at all times.”
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Stricter rules for access to hotel rooms
The BCCI has imposed strict restrictions on access to players and support staff in team hotels, with prior written approval from the team manager mandatory for any outsider wishing to enter private rooms.“(a) No person, regardless of identity, relationship to a team member, or stated purpose, shall be permitted to enter the hotel room of a player or support staff member without the prior knowledge and express written consent of the team manager.b) Guests and visitors will only be received in designated public areas of the hotel, such as the lobby or reception lounge. No guest may be escorted to private hotel rooms unless specifically authorized in writing by the team manager,” the advisory said.
Unauthorized departures from team hotels flagged
The BCCI also expressed concern over players and support staff leaving team hotels at “irregular hours” without informing designated Security Liaison Officers (SLOs) or Team Integrity Officers (TIOs).“There have been instances of players and support staff leaving team hotels at irregular hours without notifying designated Security Liaison Officers (SLOs) or Team Integration Officers (TIOs). Such departures create significant security vulnerabilities and expose individuals to risks that cannot be mitigated if the relevant staff are uninformed,” Saikia said.The guidance established clear movement protocols:
- All players and support staff must notify and obtain permission from the SLO and/or TIO before leaving the team hotel at any hour.
- Any movement outside the hotel – personal, recreational or otherwise – must be notified in advance to the team leader and the SLO.
- The SLO/TIO will maintain a current record of all team movements which may be reviewed by the BCCI Operations Team.
Accreditation cards mandatory at all locations
BCCI has also taken serious notice of some team members refusing or hesitating to produce accreditation cards during security checks.“It was noted that some team members showed reluctance to present their credential cards for verification when asked to do so by authorized security personnel. This behavior is unacceptable and constitutes a breach of basic event security protocol,” the advisory said.The Board of Directors ordered that:
- All players, support staff, officials and franchise representatives must visibly wear accreditation cards in stadiums, hotels and training facilities.
- Credential cards must be produced immediately whenever requested by security or IPL officials.
- Any non-compliant individual may be denied access to the site until the issue is resolved and the incident formally reported.
BCCI clamps down on owner-player interaction during matches
The advisory also looks into what the BCCI believes are repeated violations of the Player and Match Official Access (PMOA) protocol by the IPL franchise owners.“The BCCI has noted that certain IPL franchise owners have not followed the Player and Match Official Access (PMOA) protocols during matches,” Saikia wrote.“Specifically, there have been instances where IPL franchise owners have attempted to communicate with, approach, hug, or otherwise physically interact with players and team members during live matches. Such behavior, however well-intentioned, is directly contrary to established protocol and may constitute a disruption of team dynamics and match management.”According to the revised guidelines:
- Franchise owners and representatives may not directly interact with players or team officials in the basement, locker room or on the field of play during games.
- All access to owner-level restricted areas must strictly comply with the PMOA protocol.
- Franchises have been asked to inform owners and associates of game day conduct and access restrictions prior to each game.
Vaping and prohibited substances prohibited
One part of the advice specifically deals with “The ban on vaping and the use of prohibited substances”. The move comes after Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was earlier fined for vaping in the dressing room during a match.“Instances of vaping in the dressing room and other restricted areas of tournament venues have been brought to BCCI’s attention. It is pertinent to note that the use of vapes and e-cigarettes is prohibited under applicable Indian laws,” the advisory said.“Any individual caught engaging in such conduct on the premises of the tournament is not only in violation of BCCI and IPL regulations, but may also be committing an offense cognizable under the relevant statutory framework.”BCCI therefore strictly prohibits:
- Use of vapors, e-cigarettes and prohibited substances in locker rooms, dugouts, hotels and training grounds.
- Possession or circulation of such substances on team premises during the tournament.
Team management has also been asked to ensure that all players and support staff are “unequivocally informed” of the ban.
Responsibility set for team leadership
The advisory places direct responsibility on team managers and authorized franchise officials to ensure compliance with the new protocols.Franchisees were instructed to:
- Conduct a mandatory team briefing within 48 hours of receiving the referral.
- Obtain written confirmation from all players and support staff that they understand the guidelines.
- Establish a formal guest approval system with daily written records.
- Maintain movement records in coordination with SLO/TIO.
- Ensure franchise owners are fully informed of PMOA protocols prior to each match.
- Report any violation to the IPL Operations Division immediately.
- Surprise inspections and disciplinary measures
The BCCI has also warned the franchises that the IPL operations team may conduct surprise audits and inspections to assess compliance with the new guidelines.“The BCCI / IPL operations team may carry out periodic inspections to assess compliance with the guidelines outlined in this advisory. Team managers must maintain a record of all approved guest visits and movement within the hotel,” Saikia wrote.
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The board further warned that any breach would be considered a “serious disciplinary matter” with possible consequences including:
- Show-cause notification
- Financial penalties
- Suspension or disqualification from IPL seasons
- Referral to law enforcement authorities in cases involving violations of the law
- Any further action deemed necessary by the BCCI/IPL Board of Governors
“The BCCI and the IPL Board of Governors wish to make it clear that any breach of the guidelines contained in this recommendation will be treated as a serious disciplinary matter,” the note added.
