The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a seven-page security advisory to all Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises as the 2026 season is underway and reaching its climax. The document, circulated by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, focuses on mitigating the risk of "honey-traps" and preventing scenarios that could lead to sexual misconduct or harassment allegations. The board noted that the high-profile nature of the tournament makes players and support staff prime targets for extortion and compromising situations, necessitating a fundamental shift in how teams manage off-field interactions.
"The BCCI draws the attention of all Franchises to the well-documented risks of targeted compromise and honey-trapping that pervade high-profile sporting environments. The possibility of incidents giving rise to serious legal allegations, including those under applicable laws on sexual misconduct, cannot be discounted. IPL franchise management must remain vigilant and proactive in mitigating such risks at all times," Saikia said, as quoted by Cricbuzz, as the new set of rules were unveiled.
To address these vulnerabilities, the BCCI has implemented a total ban on guests or visitors entering the private hotel rooms of players and staff.
Under the new protocol, all interactions with visitors must take place in designated public spaces such as hotel lobbies or reception lounges. No guest will be permitted to enter a player’s room without the written permission of the Team Manager.
These measures are designed to ensure transparency and reduce the possibility of unmonitored private encounters that could lead to legal or disciplinary complications.
The advisory also addressed the movement of team members outside of their official accommodations. The BCCI stated that irregular or unrecorded exits were seen during theIPL, and this creates significant security blind spots.
The board has mandated that any player or staff member wishing to leave the hotel for personal reasons must first obtain clearance from the team’s Security Liaison Officer or Integrity Officer. A real-time log of all off-site movements will has to be meticulously maintained by each franchise and will be subject to inspection by the BCCI Operations Team at any time to ensure strict adherence to the safety framework.
The BCCI has instructed owners and management associates of all the 10 franchises to stay out of restricted zones, including the dugouts and dressing rooms, during live matches.
This follows previous instances where owners were found to be interacting with players in violation of Player and Match Official Access (PMOA) protocols. Additionally, the visible display of accreditation cards is now mandatory for everyone across all stadiums, practice facilities, and team hotels. Failure to present these cards to security personnel will result in an immediate denial of access to the venue.
To ensure these rules are actively enforced throughout the tournament, the BCCI’s IPL Operations Team will conduct periodic surprise checks on all franchises, as reported by Cricbuzz.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
