Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder has been handed a nominal fine by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) for using a mobile phone in the team’s dugout during the game against RCB. The administrator, who has been a part of the franchise since the inception of the league, was caught in the eye of the controversy for using a phone during a game, which involved 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as well. While the BCCI did serve a show-cause notice to Bhinder, he has now been cleared of all charges.
RR manager faces no action for using phone in dugout
As per Cricbuzz, the BCCI’s ASCU has sent a letter to the RR manager, informing him that he has been cleared and will just be facing a nominal fine for using a mobile phone in the team’s dugout during the course of the match, apart from being warned as well. The report states that there has been no word on Sooryavanshi, who was seen glancing into the screen of Bhinder’s phone at the time of the incident.
As per the Indian Premier League (IPL) Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules, team managers are allowed to carry phones but are strictly prohibited from using them during the game. The incident occurred during the 11th over of RR’s chase. Bhinder, seated in the dugout, was scrolling on his phone while Vaibhav Suryavanshi, sitting next to him, appeared to glance at the screen.
Following the incident, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had claimed that a probe has been launched and vowed to discover if any protocol had been violated. Meanwhile, sources claimed that a health scare was the reason behind the RR team manager using the phone.
“Both of his lungs had collapsed and that medical emergency meant he spent nearly a month in a Nagpur hospital,” a source told the English daily.
“Romi has lost more than 10 kilos due to medical issues. He has asthma as well because of which he is advised not to walk a long distance or climb stairs frequently. He is with the team and performed various roles for the franchise. Hence he knows the rules and regulations but that phone was in his possession due to medical reasons.”
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