BCCI's IPL crackdown, live updates: Stern warning issued to players and owners for breaching protocols

As per Cricbuzz, the BCCI have also chalked out the possible repercussions should a player, support staff or an owner be found breaching the new directives.

"The BCCI and the IPL Governing Council wish to make unequivocally clear that any breach of the directives set out in this Advisory shall be treated as a serious disciplinary matter. Non-compliance shall expose the relevant IPL franchise and the individual concerned to proceedings under the applicable provisions of the IPL Regulations, the BCCI Rules & Regulations, and other applicable statutes, as the circumstances may warrant.

"Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following consequences may be imposed at the sole discretion of the BCCI / IPL Governing Council:

1. Show-Cause Notice: Issuance of a formal show-cause notice to the Franchise and/or the individual concerned.

2. Financial Penalties: Imposition of financial penalties on the Franchise or individual, as prescribed under the IPL Regulations.

3. Suspension or disqualification: Suspension or disqualification of the player, support staff member, or team official from the ongoing or subsequent IPL season(s).

4. For Legal Violations: In cases involving legal violations, including use of prohibited substances, breach of security protocol, or conduct amounting to harassment, referral of the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

5. Other Action: Any other action as the BCCI / IPL Governing Council may deem appropriate in the interest of the tournament and the sport.

"Franchises are strongly advised to take cognisance of this Advisory and take all necessary steps to ensure full compliance. The BCCI reserves the right to conduct periodic audits and inspections to ascertain adherence to these directives."

Cricbuzz report that the BCCI "may conduct periodic checks to assess adherence to the directives set forth in this Advisory. Team Managers are required to maintain records of all approved guest visits and hotel movements."

"Any breach of the aforementioned directives must be self-reported to the IPL Operations Team or the relevant IPL Venue Team at the earliest opportunity. The BCCI trusts that all IPL franchises will treat this Advisory with the seriousness it warrants and take all necessary steps to uphold the integrity and reputation of the Indian Premier League," the directive further reads.

The Indian Express have reported that owners' behaviour has come under the scanner as well, with some sending messages to the team dugout during matches. This is reflected in the BCCI's directive to IPL franchises, which reads:

“The BCCI has noted with concern that certain IPL franchise owners have not adhered to the Player and Match Official Access (PMOA) Protocol during the course of matches. Specifically, instances have been observed of IPL franchise owners attempting to communicate with, approach, hug, or otherwise physically interact with players and team members during live match situations. Such conduct, however well-intentioned, directly contravenes established protocol and may constitute interference with team dynamics and match proceedings.”

Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag was recently spotted using an e-cigarette in the dressing room during an IPL 2026 game. BCCI have noted that the use of "vapes, e-cigarettes, and all prohibited substances is strictly banned within all IPL tournament venues."

As per Cricbuzz, the advisory stated:

"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."

As per PTI, the increasing proximity between the players and social media influencers, and little to no background checks on the content being pushed for everyone to watch, played a part in the new and stricter guidelines.

"Yes, we have received a new set of rules from the BCCI and steps are being taken to follow them with diligence. The new crop of players are so much into this social media activity. Yes, it is a modern trend, we accept it. But it has to be done within the limit set by the BCCI," a franchise representative told PTI.

"It's impossible to track each and every movement of people. It's an issue. What we are trying to do is make the players and content teams more aware of the BCCI norms, and the consequences if they break them," they added.

"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," Saiki said in the advisory, as per Cricbuzz.

The new protocols read as follows:

(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.

All the players, support staff, team officials, and IPL franchise representatives have also been directed to wear their accreditation cards at all times.

As part of their seven-page guideline, BCCI have come down hard on the regulations regarding visitors to a team member's hotel room. As reported by Cricbuzz, the advisory reads:

"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.

 "(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.

"(b) Guests and visitors shall be received exclusively in designated public areas of the hotel, such as the lobby or reception lounge. No guest shall be escorted to private hotel rooms unless the Team Manager has specifically authorised the same in writing."