Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India is preparing to introduce stricter regulations around franchise environments in the Indian Premier League following concerns over the movement of unauthorised individuals during the 2026 season. According to reports, the proposed measures will tighten access to team hotels, dressing rooms, buses and other player-only areas connected to franchises and support staff. The move comes after the board observed repeated instances of individuals without official accreditation accompanying players during travel and within restricted zones.
Several prominent Indian cricketers, including Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan and Arshdeep Singh, were frequently seen with their rumoured partners around franchise setups during the tournament, sparking discussions within the board regarding compliance with anti-corruption and accreditation protocols. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board had identified irregularities related to team operations and movement. He stated that unauthorised individuals had reportedly entered spaces reserved strictly for players and officials, including team hotels and player rooms.
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Saikia also expressed concern over franchise owners and officials accessing restricted areas during matchdays and official travel schedules. He said the BCCI and IPL management are preparing an advisory that will be implemented strictly for the remainder of the season. The upcoming guidelines are expected to include tighter accreditation checks and stricter monitoring of team movement, limiting access to authorised personnel only. The board has warned that any future violations could invite stringent disciplinary action. The development follows growing scrutiny over the relaxed handling of access protocols by some franchises during IPL 2026.
