NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has warned Indian Premier League franchises after the tournament’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) flagged the presence of unauthorised individuals in team dugouts, buses, hotels, and Players and Match Officials Areas (PMOA) during the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the ACSU raised concerns over repeated breaches of tournament protocols, prompting the BCCI to remind franchises to strictly follow the league’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed that the ACSU had submitted a report to the BCCI regarding the issue.
“The Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has flagged certain anomalies and submitted a report about unauthorised persons being seen in the dugout, team bus, and team hotel during IPL matches,” Dhumal told PTI.
“There are certain protocols under PMOA that need to be followed, and the BCCI will be telling the franchises to be mindful of the SOPs so that the sanctity of the tournament is restored.”
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also said there had been “various anomalies and irregularities” during the tournament and warned of strict action in case of further violations.
“This time, we have observed various anomalies and irregularities in the conduct of certain franchises and players,” Saikia told ANI on Thursday.
“So BCCI and IPL are preparing an advisory, and we are going to release that advisory because 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.”
According to reports, the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit identified several incidents beyond those already publicly known, leading to heightened monitoring around team movement and access control during matches.
The warnings come amid growing concern over player conduct and security compliance during the tournament.
Recent incidents involving the Rajasthan Royals also drew attention. Team manager Ravinder Bhinder was reportedly fined after being seen using a mobile phone in the dugout, while captain Riyan Parag faced scrutiny after a video appeared to show him vaping inside the dressing room.
The BCCI’s ACSU, headed by former IPS officer Sharad Kumar, oversees anti-corruption protocols aimed at preventing betting, spot-fixing, and unauthorised access linked to cricket tournaments in India.
Several Indian media reports said the BCCI has warned IPL franchises after its anti-corruption unit flagged the presence of unauthorised persons in dugouts, team buses, and hotels during IPL 2026.
According to reports, the BCCI’s ACU identified several irregularities beyond incidents already in the public domain, prompting the board to issue a fresh advisory to all 10 IPL franchises.
The warnings come amid growing concern over player conduct and security risks during the tournament. New guidelines reportedly prohibit unauthorised guests from entering player hotel rooms and warn franchises about possible “honey traps”, legal liability, and reputational risks.
The BCCI also said players and officials must follow stricter travel and access protocols, including restrictions on family members and non-accredited individuals entering the Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA).
Two incidents involving the Rajasthan Royals have already resulted in disciplinary action. Team manager Ravinder Bhinder was fined after being seen using a mobile phone in the dugout, while captain Riyan Parag faced scrutiny after a video appeared to show him vaping inside the dressing room.
Saikia said the ACU, headed by former IPS officer Sharad Kumar, had provided intelligence reports on additional breaches not yet made public.
The BCCI’s anti-corruption framework was established to prevent betting, spot-fixing and other unlawful activities linked to cricket competitions in India.
