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New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning to crack the whip on the IPL team owners amid anti-corruption concerns. After issuing stricter guidelines for the players and team members regarding social media and the presence of girlfriends at team venues, the Indian cricket board has issued a warning to the owners.

As per a report in the Indian Express, the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has raised concerns over multiple breaches of protocol by the team owners during the ongoing season. The ACU has reported several instances of owners and franchise representatives moving closer to restricted zones during matches, against the operational guidelines from the board.

As per the report, BCCI had to issue a formal advisory for the team owners and other members of the franchise to remind them about following the guidelines strictly and adhering to the IPL Player and Match Official Access rules. The BCCI pointed out that its ACU noticed several owners trying to communicate with the team during an ongoing match and trying to get close to the playing enclosure.

A BCCI source revealed that some owners have regularly flouted the guidelines and have even been spotted carrying mobile phones to the ground, raising anti-corruption concerns. The official revealed the owners have been warned of their actions by the board, but to no avail.

“One of the most worrying aspects has been the behaviour of the team owners. They have been flouting rules and haven’t been cooperating. By way of evidence, there are photographs of them near the dugout. Some even carry their phones to the ground. They have been warned, but it hasn’t helped,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

BCCI’s advisory has also come amid the board’s frustration over the repeated breaches of the existing guidelines by the team owners during the ongoing season. The board is also unhappy over some franchise officials carrying mobile phones in controlled areas during the matches.

BCCI trying to tackle ‘reel culture’ in the IPL

BCCI is also working to curb the growing ‘reel culture’ in the IPL and has issued fresh guidelines for the franchises, advising them not to allow players to film content and post it on social media. BCCI is also unhappy over players’ family members filming content at team hotels and match venues and regularly posting on social media. A Punjab Kings player has reportedly been asked by the franchise not to shoot his vlogs during the team’s travel days and post it on social media.