A young Tamil Nadu cricketer has been fined Rs 1 lakh for breaching anti-corruption protocols during the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League. The player was found using an undeclared mobile phone inside the Players and Match Officials Area during a match.
The incident took place on August 10 at the NPR College ground in Natham, Dindigul, during a TNPL game. The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) subsequently reported the matter to the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), which has now begun its own investigation.
The player, who is 26, made his Ranji Trophy debut last season and is a left-hander. He scored two fifties for Tamil Nadu in the previous Ranji Trophy campaign. According to a senior TNCA official, he was found texting his girlfriend during the match, although no evidence of contact with bookmakers or any corruption-related activity was found.
The ACSU nevertheless treated the use of an undeclared phone inside the PMOA as a breach of the anti-corruption code. The player was served a notice and asked to explain the violation, but his response was deemed unsatisfactory.
PLAYER WITHDRAWN FROM TNPL
The player was immediately withdrawn from his franchise after the incident came to light. He did not feature in the team’s next match and was also left out of its Friday fixture.
TNCA secretary U Bhagawandas Rao confirmed that the association had received a communication from the ACSU and said the player would remain unavailable while the enquiry continues.
“We have received a letter (from the ACSU) about this incident. We have instructed the team owners not to consider him for selection until the enquiry is over. We are currently investigating the matter and will take appropriate action,” Rao said.
Other TNPL franchises have also reportedly been informed about the player’s withdrawal.
NO BOOKMAKER LINK FOUND
The ACSU’s investigation did not uncover any activity on the phone directly linked to bookmakers. However, the fact that the player had brought an undeclared communication device into the PMOA was itself considered a violation.
“While no corruption charges has been levelled, using mobile phone in PMOA during course of a match is prohibited. Hence it’s a protocol breach,” a senior TNCA official told PTI.
The ACSU initially recommended a Rs 1 lakh fine, taking into account that this was the player’s first such offence. A more severe punishment had been considered by the TNCA, including a possible two-year ban, but the association felt the offence did not warrant such a penalty.
A similar incident occurred during the previous IPL season when Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs 1 lakh for using a mobile phone in the team dugout during a match.
The TNCA will decide whether any further action is required once its investigation into the incident is complete.
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