Concerns that led to the BCCI’s harsh recommendation included reels made in restricted places, outings without security approvals, and players’ close proximity to social media influencers. IPL teams are now rushing to maintain compliance without sacrificing individual privacy.
The Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit warned of possible honey traps and identified unauthorized visitors in the hotel rooms of players, support personnel, and team officials. Consequently, the BCCI issued an advice imposing restrictions on visitors and requiring players to notify security of their whereabouts.
The players’ “excessive proximity” to influencers, who are hired for brief periods of time to produce social media material for the participating teams, was one of the main infractions noted.
In one instance, a younger player asked the new members of the content team to help him create reels, videos, and images for his personal social media accounts.
In this case, the vlogger utilized some of the images and videos on his own private account to boost popularity, even though it’s not unusual for a player to seek outside assistance for neo-media content creation.
The team’s training and other on-field operations were clearly visible during the shot, which took place inside the boundary line. Later on, it also spread to the player’s hotel room. The BCCI did not find this amusing.
“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,” PTI quoted a franchise official as saying.
“…it’s impossible to track each and every movement of people. It’s an issue. What we are trying to do is to make the players and content teams more aware of the BCCI norms, and the consequences if they break them.”
Reducing the number of content teams is a step in that direction.
“We are trying to limit the number of content team members, particularly those who get hired for a fixed term like 2-3 months during an IPL season.
“Senior players will know the rules and how to follow them. But at times, cricketers coming to the IPL for the first time might not know the gravity of the situation. They will be eager to emulate the stars and get some social media likes and comments. So, we need to educate them more,” the official added.
The Board’s worries about uninvited guests in players’ and support staff members’ rooms grew after it was discovered that a player frequently hosted a few guests in his room late at night.
A “casual and disinterested” response was given when the BCCI ACU officer called the team manager to ask about the discussions. The manager defended the player by pointing to his seniority within the team.
“I am not surprised. At times, the players use their stature within the team to bend the rules. Once I told a player to host his friends in the lobby restaurant, not in his room.
“I told him there are some board instructions on such matters. He just snapped: ‘You don’t worry. I will tell the board (officials), if they ask’,” stated a former official, who was a team manager in the IPL for a considerable amount of time.
Another franchise representative shared his thoughts on the matter. “Well, I don’t know about such arm-twisting (by players). But we have now given out clear instructions that a written or at least verbal permission is required to invite friends and family to the hotel where the team stays.
“I know they also need to meet family and friends. But we have told them not to entertain guests after 10 pm, and such meetings should happen in the lobby or any other public place where the team manager/officials should have ready access,” the official stated.
In another case, a team official knocked on a player’s hotel room door to provide information, but the player did not answer.
Eventually, late at night, he entered the hotel with a group of friends. However, because the player was thought to be connected to the franchise’s owners, it was ignored.
“I agree that sometimes rules are not followed in letter and spirit or sometimes some exemptions will be given to the players. Now, we are looking to put in place constant checks on the players.
“But we should also ensure that it’s not an intrusion into their privacy. We will also be in talks with the BCCI as to how to implement this particular rule without any issue,” the official said.
