BCCI issues honey-trap warning to IPL teams, lays strict rules over hotel room access

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has written to all the franchises taking part in the Indian Premier League about the potential risks of targeted honey-trapping during the course of the tournament. The board, through its secretary Devajit Saikia, has also intimated to the teams that it could lead to serious allegations against the players and other officials, including those of sexual misconduct, among others.

The BCCI has made it clear that there should not be a violation of the guidelines that have been recently issued to all the team members, including but not limited to players and support staff. As part of this protocol, team members will not be allowed to have outsiders in their hotel rooms without prior intimation and due approval of the respective team’s manager.

“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 was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

As per the guidelines

• (a) No person, irrespective of their identity, relationship to the team member, or stated purpose, shall be permitted entry into a player’s or support staff member’s hotel room without the prior knowledge and explicit written approval of the Team Manager.

“Instances have been noted of players and support staff leaving team hotels at irregular hours without informing the designated Security Liaison Officers (SLOs) or Team Integrity Officer (TIOs). Such departures create significant security vulnerabilities and expose individuals to risks that cannot be mitigated if the relevant personnel are uninformed,” Saikia noted.

• (a) All players and support staff must inform and obtain clearance from the SLO and/or TIO before departing from the team hotel at any hour.

• (b) Any planned movement outside the hotel, for personal, recreational, or any other purposes, must be communicated to the Team Manager and the SLO well in advance of the intended departure.

• (c) The SLO/TIO shall maintain a contemporaneous log of all team movements, to be made available to the BCCI Operations Team upon request.

Ban on smoking and prohibited substances

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was caught vaping openly inside the dressing room, and the visuals were telecast live. Since vaping is an illegal activity in India, the board has communicated that it is not only leading to violation of the guidelines of the tournament but is also amounting to committing a cognisable offence.

“Instances of vaping within the dressing room and other restricted areas of tournament venues have been brought to the BCCI’s attention. It is pertinent to note that the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes is prohibited under applicable Indian law. Any individual found engaging in such conduct within tournament premises is not only violating BCCI and IPL regulations but may also be committing a cognisable offence under the applicable statutory framework.

“Accordingly, the use of vapes, e-cigarettes, and all prohibited substances is strictly banned within all IPL tournament venues, including dressing rooms, dugouts, team hotels, and practice facilities. Furthermore, the team management must ensure that all players and support staff are unequivocally informed of this prohibition and that no such substances are permitted within any team premises during the tournament.”

Displaying accreditation cards

“It has been brought to notice that certain team members have demonstrated reluctance in presenting their accreditation cards for verification when requested by authorised security personnel. This behaviour is unacceptable and constitutes a breach of basic event security protocol,” the BCCI secretary said on account of players not showing their IPL accreditation cards.

• (a) All players, support staff, team officials, and IPL franchise representatives must wear their accreditation cards visibly at all times within event premises, including the stadium, team hotel, and practice facilities.

• (b) Accreditation cards must be displayed prominently at all times and presented for inspection without hesitation or objection whenever demanded by authorised security personnel, BCCI officials, or designated IPL Operations staff.

• (c) Any individual found non-compliant with accreditation requirements will be denied access to the relevant venue until the matter is resolved, and the incident will be formally reported to the Team Manager and BCCI.

The BCCI holds the Team Manager and/or the authorised person from the Franchise jointly and severally responsible for ensuring full compliance with the directives contained in this Advisory. Team Managers are specifically directed to:

• Mandatory Team Briefing: Convene a mandatory team briefing within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of this Advisory to communicate its contents to all players and support staff.

• Written Acknowledgement: Obtain a written acknowledgement from each player and support staff member confirming receipt and understanding of the directives set out herein.

• Guest Approval System: Implement and maintain a guest approval system for all hotel visits, with written records of every approved guest maintained on a daily basis.

• Movement Log: Maintain a movement log in coordination with the SLO / TIO, recording all departures from and returns to the team hotel.

• PMOA Protocol Compliance: IPL franchise owners and their associates on PMOA and all related protocols prior to each match day, and ensure strict compliance therewith.

• Reporting Obligation: Report any breach of the directives set out in this Advisory to the IPL Operations Division at the earliest opportunity.

Acts and responsibilities