New Delhi: As the Board of Cricket in India (BCCI) gets aggressive with the implementation of its anti-corruption guidelines. IPLTOI has learned that it has started to trickle down heavily to players, officials, families of team members and broadcasters who create social media content.A few former cricketers working as broadcasters have already been reprimanded by the board for making videos near the players and match officials’ area (PMOA) during this season. Ahead of the IPL, the board had shared strict guidelines with broadcasters, including guidelines for staff.“There have been some violations by a few commentators. A former international cricketer was found filming on his phone near the dugout during a tense match. The BCCI team acted swiftly and forced him to stop the recording. There may be a case of sending a legal notice to a former cricketer who was found filming for his YouTube channel. “The board has clearly mentioned that no one wearing official BCCI and IPL attire can be seen filming at the ground,” BCCI sources said.
The ‘honey traps’ that the BCCI is concerned about are also due to the growing proximity of players to influencers and bloggers. There are also fears that the new crop of cricketers is becoming obsessed with posting too much content on social media. An Indian cricketer has already been asked to stop his habit of posting content on his team’s travels and other locations.It has also been seen, unfavorably, that franchises have hired social media influencers and given them unfiltered access within the team. “Rail culture has made many transgressions of late. There are some Indian players who post videos on match days, right before the match and right after the match ends,” the source said. A former India cricketer was earlier told not to post content on his YouTube channel during the ongoing series. It is also learned that the families of the players have been asked to refrain from posting pictures and videos during the IPL.The board had earlier warned an Indian fast bowler after he was found promoting a video of the Indian team’s accommodation facilities by his wife. There have been instances in the IPL where a player almost reveals whether he is in the playing XI on match days or not.
Focus on senior players, state leagues.
ACU has flagged the issue of senior international players allowing their family/friends to travel in the team bus. There is also a focus on local T20 leagues organized by state associations. “Local T20 leagues also have BCCI ACU officers at team hotels. BCCI Anti-Corruption Guidelines are applicable in these leagues. There are anti-corruption sessions with players, team officials and team owners but there are some IPL players who have taken liberties and brought unauthorized guests to local T20 hotels. These are poor examples for young cricketers who make it to the IPL through these leagues,” BCCI sources said. All state T20 leagues are likely to implement the revised guidelines issued by the board.
Poll
Should former cricketers working as broadcasters be allowed to film near team areas?
