BCCI to Enforce Stricter Rules in IPL Amid Protocol Violations

BCCI's New Measures for IPL Compliance

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to implement stricter regulations for players and team officials in the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to ongoing violations of rules. On May 7, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia made a significant announcement, indicating that the board will soon release new guidelines aimed at curbing repeated breaches of protocols.

Unauthorized Individuals Traveling with Players

In an interview, Saikia expressed concern over certain team owners and officials accompanying players to restricted areas. He emphasized that the board is taking these matters very seriously. Instances such as the Rajasthan Royals manager using a mobile phone and a player being caught vaping have already come to light. Saikia stated, "We are not sitting idle. Unauthorized individuals are traveling on team buses and staying at team hotels, entering players' and officials' rooms without permission. These actions are in direct violation of BCCI's anti-corruption protocols."

Players Spotted with Girlfriends

This IPL season has seen several Indian players frequently spotted with their girlfriends, including Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan, even at the airport. Saikia made it clear that once the new advisory is issued, any rule violations will lead to strict disciplinary actions against the offenders, whether they are players or team officials. Notably, Rajasthan Royals' team manager Romi Bhinder was fined ₹1 lakh for using a mobile phone in the dugout and received a stern warning from the board. Additionally, the BCCI has taken the vaping incident involving Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag very seriously.