The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has intensified its scrutiny of IPL franchises following the league's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) expressing concerns over repeated violations of match-day protocols by team owners and officials during the 2026 season.
BCCI express frustration
As per a latest report from The Indian Express, the ACU has reportedly flagged several instances of franchise representatives entering or approaching restricted zones during matches in violation of established operational guidelines. The issue became serious enough for the BCCI to issue a formal advisory to all teams, requesting them to strictly adhere to the IPL's Player and Match Official Access regulations.
In its communication, the BCCI emphasized that team owners and franchise representatives are not allowed to approach players, support staff, or dugout areas during live games without taking proper permission. The ACU has observed multiple instances of owners trying to interact with team members from hospitality boxes or moving close to the playing enclosure while matches are being played.
“One of the most worrying aspects has been the behaviour of the team owners. They have been flouting rules and haven’t been cooperating. By way of evidence, there are photographs of them near the dugout. Some even carry their phones to the ground. They have been warned, but it hasn’t helped," said an official from BCCI.
BCCI not happy with team owners
The ACU considers such actions to be serious offenses, as unrestricted access during games can disrupt team operations and raise unnecessary integrity concerns. The report further adds that evidence, including photographs and inputs from venue officials, was shared with BCCI office-bearers.
The latest advisory also focused on the board's frustrating violation of existing protocols despite several warnings. Some franchise-linked personnel were found carrying phones into restricted areas, while others allegedly failed to comply with security staff requests to show accreditations cards during checks.
The report further adds that following the advisory was circulated, the BCCI conducted a meeting with team CEOs to discuss the ACU's observation and security concerns in detail. The board reportedly made it clear that future offences would be dealt with strictly, and franchises would be held responsible for the conduct of owners, guests and support staff on game days.