The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that it has been forced to issue guidelines to the franchises as certain incidents in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) have made the board uncomfortable. The explanation comes after advisories were issued for the teams and the players, warning them of the dangers of ‘targeted compromise and honey-trapping’, apart from also cracking down on owners, instances of vaping, and the the breach of Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocols. IPL 2026 has been rocked by several incidents such as Riyan Parag and Yuzvendra Chahal caught vaping on camera, RR manager using a phone in the team dugout among other incidents, prompting the board to take strict action.
Why did the BCCI impose stricter rules amid IPL 2026?
Speaking to news agency ANI on Tuesday, a BCCI source said that the board was in talks with the franchises to ensure that no untoward incidents occur again and that there has been lots of indiscipline in IPL 2026 so far. The guidelines were issued by the BCCI after IPL’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) flagged multiple irregularities during the tournament, including unauthorised individuals entering team hotels, dugouts and restricted zones.
“We are forced to issue guidelines in this season of IPL. We saw many incidents which makes the board uncomfortable. We are in talks with IPL franchises to ensure no untoward incidents happen again. There has been lots of indiscipline in this IPL,” a BCCI source told ANI on Tuesday.
One of the biggest directives in the advisory is a complete restriction on unauthorised visitors entering players’ hotel rooms. As per the new rules, nobody, regardless of personal relationship, can enter a player or support staff member’s room without prior written approval from the team manager.
BCCI’s new hotel room rules
| Rule | Directive |
|---|---|
| Visitors in rooms | Strictly prohibited without written approval |
| Meetings with guests | Allowed only in public hotel areas |
| Team hotel exits | Mandatory intimation to SLO/TIO |
| Accreditation cards | Must be displayed at all times |
| Dugout interaction | Owners barred from approaching players |
The advisory also targets franchise owners and officials who have reportedly breached Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocols during live matches. The board specifically warned against owners entering dugouts, hugging players or interacting with team personnel during games. The board also addressed vaping incidents that surfaced earlier this season involving players.
Possible punishments under new IPL advisory
| Violation | Possible Action |
|---|---|
| SOP breach | Show-cause notice |
| Security violation | Financial penalty |
| PMOA breach | Suspension/disqualification |
| Prohibited substances | Referral to law enforcement |
| Repeat offence | IPL ban |
Cricket
'Lots of indiscipline in IPL 2026': BCCI breaks silence on introduction of stricter rules
