Table of Contents
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issues a clarification on the BCCI diktat over 'honey trapping' and 'social media' amid the IPL 2026 season.
Amid the ongoing season of the IPL 2026, the BCCI, for the first time, issued a diktat that included several measures and ultimatums to the teams that were participating in the 19th edition of the IPL.
The diktats laid several impositions on the excessive use of social media by the players and the tendency to often post internal insights of teams on social media. It also laid certain warnings over possible honey traps and threats to players and members of the team management.
"Our anti-corruption team found many small issues": BCCI secretary states the real reason behind 'honey trap' warnings
When asked why the BCCI secretary issued an eight-page diktat to all the IPL franchises, Devajit Saikia clarified that the Anti-Corruption Unit had claimed threats of honey trapping, and hence the diktat was issued.
"When our anti-corruption team found many small issues that could have blown into a major controversy later, they said we had to do something at the very beginning. We have to nip it in the bud.
"Therefore, once we received the status or brief report on the various violations of the IPL protocols, we issued advisories to ensure and pre-empt any foul play in the IPL movement," revealed the BCCI secretary, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
We are just ensuring that social media does not cross the line: Devajit Saikia
Speaking on the limitations of the use of social media, Devajit Saikia said that he understands the modern-day evolutions of the game and the things that are becoming popular on various platforms over time.
"Personally, I'm not bothered because you have to go with the technology and the things that are becoming popular on various platforms over time," he said.
However, Devajit Saikia added that though the use of social media has proliferated in recent years, it should not enter the areas where they are now allowed to. Hence, the BCCI's motive is to regulate these activities through IPL protocols.
"We have to adjust ourselves to the trend. But that does not allow anyone to intrude into team meetings or team activities, or onto buses or into areas where other unauthorized persons are not supposed to enter. We are just ensuring that social media does not cross the line, which is where they are not allowed to travel," he added.
Devajit Saikia reflects on the increase in the number of IPL games
When asked whether the number of games would increase to 94 as per the BCCI's proposal, the BCCI secretary claimed that the increase in span is not a growing concern since the IPL has been played for more than two months, like it was hosted over a span of two months and two days this year.
However, he said that the only concern is that the tournament continued till the 31st of May, and some venues showed signs of rain or experienced high temperatures. He said that they will be aiming to finish it by the 15th of May.
However, he also confirmed that currently they are not making any efforts to increase the number of matches from 74 to 94 at this moment. But he claimed that it is a long-term process, as several FTPs and other bilaterals and multinational tournaments would have to be taken into consideration.
