The IPL’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has reported a spate of protocol breaches to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, sparking a reminder to all ten franchises about the basics of tournament security.
“The Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has flagged certain anomalies and submitted a report about unauthorised persons being seen in dugout, team bus and team hotel during IPL matches,” IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told PTI. He added that the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules, drawn up to ring-fence players and support staff, “need to be followed” to maintain the league’s integrity.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, echoing the internal unease, noted that problems range from outsiders wandering through team zones to owners finding their way into restricted spaces. “This time, we have observed various anomalies and irregularities in the conduct of certain franchises and players,” Saikia explained to ANI on Thursday. “So BCCI and IPL are preparing an advisory … we have noticed that there are a lot of unauthorised persons who are moving along with the team members. And some people who are unauthorised are coming to the hotels and to the players’ rooms or the team officials’ room, which is totally against our anti-corruption protocols.
“We have also seen that certain team owners and officials are mingling with players in areas where it is not allowed. So there are certain protocols we have to follow, and we have seen there are some dilutions. We have taken this very seriously. We are issuing an advisory, and it will be very strictly followed. If there is any violation hereinafter, then BCCI and IPL will take very stringent action.”
Those guidelines are not new. The PMOA and its access cards were introduced years ago after spot-fixing scandals rocked the competition. In practice, that means only accredited personnel—players, coaches, selected medical staff and designated security—should be on the team bus, inside the dressing room or within the roped-off zones at venues.
Yet a long tournament, frequent travel and VIP curiosity often blur the lines. Even well-meaning sponsors can drift where they should not. For the BCCI, tightening the screws now is as much about optics as it is about prevention. A reminder, said one senior official privately, “helps everyone remember the difference between access and excess”.
Whether the fresh advisory turns into disciplinary action will hinge on how quickly franchises pull their internal reins. For now, the board hopes clarity, not confrontation, does the job—and does it before a minor lapse swells into a full-blown controversy.
