BCCI issues strict IPL advisory on honey-trap risks, hotel access and vaping violations

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a fresh advisory to all 10 IPL franchises after flagging multiple instances of misconduct and protocol violations during the ongoing season. The communication, sent by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, warned teams about potential “honey-trap” risks and laid down stricter rules for player conduct, hotel access and security compliance.

In the advisory, the BCCI said franchises must remain alert to the “well-documented risks of targeted compromise and honey-trapping” in high-profile sporting environments. The Board added that situations leading to “serious legal allegations”, including those linked to sexual misconduct laws, could not be ruled out.

The Board said the directive was issued after several incidents involving players, support staff and team officials came to its notice during the current IPL season. According to the communication, such violations could damage the reputation of the tournament, franchises and the BCCI while also exposing individuals to legal and security risks.

One of the key concerns highlighted by the BCCI involved unauthorised visitors entering players’ hotel rooms without approval from team management. The Board directed franchises to immediately stop the practice and made prior written approval from the team manager mandatory before any outsider could access a player or support staff member’s room. Guests have also been restricted to designated public areas such as hotel lobbies and reception lounges.

The advisory also flagged incidents of players and support staff leaving team hotels at irregular hours without informing Security Liaison Officers or Team Integrity Officers. The BCCI said such movements created avoidable security vulnerabilities. Under the revised protocols, players and support staff must now seek clearance before leaving team hotels and inform officials in advance about personal or recreational outings.

The Board further instructed all players, officials and franchise representatives to prominently display accreditation cards at stadiums, hotels and practice venues. It warned that reluctance to cooperate during security verification would be treated as a breach of protocol and could lead to denial of venue access.

The advisory also addressed interactions between franchise owners and players during matches. The BCCI said some owners had attempted to communicate with or physically interact with players in dugouts and other restricted areas during live games, which violated Player and Match Official Access protocols. Franchises have now been asked to brief owners and representatives on match-day restrictions before every game.

The Board also reiterated its ban on vaping and prohibited substances inside tournament venues after incidents of vaping inside dressing rooms were reported. Without naming any individual, the BCCI said the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes was prohibited under Indian law and warned that violations could attract disciplinary as well as legal action.

This comes after an incident involving Riyan Parag vaping inside the Rajasthan Royals dressing room.

Franchises have been instructed to conduct mandatory team briefings within 48 hours, maintain movement and visitor logs, and report any breach immediately to the IPL Operations Division. The BCCI also warned that surprise inspections could be carried out to check compliance and stated that violations could invite penalties, suspension or further disciplinary action.

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