Pitch Tampering? BCCI BANS shared nets for IPL franchises

BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has issued a fresh bunch of guidelines ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The main purpose of the board's guidelines is to protect the main pitch as much as possible before the main match. To keep the tracks in pristine conditions, the Indian cricket governing body has issued some advisories for every participating team in the league.

In a five-page communique, the board has issued guidelines for the practice sessions as well. In the official announcement, it is clearly mentioned that teams will have to arrange separate nets for their training if one team comes for practice after another.

The same nets will not be allowed for back-to-back practice sessions of different teams

"Fresh nets should be provided to each team for their allocated practice session. In any event of simultaneous practice sessions or when one team practises after the other, the first team shall not be permitted to use the other team's nets (including for throw downs). If one team finishes practice early, the other team is not permitted to use their range-hitting wicket", the part of the guidelines reads.

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To keep the players prepared for an upcoming match, teams often arrange practice matches. Now, the franchises will have to arrange practice matches according to the BCCI's latest notification.

Practice matches will not be allowed inside the main square of the ground: BCCI guidelines

The board has mentioned that teams are allowed to arrange practice matches only on one of the side wickets of the main square, after taking permission from the authority. A team will be allowed to arrange up to two practice matches. And, if any team wants to play their practice games under the lights, then they will have to complete it within three and a half hours.

"To prepare the pitch for the season, no practice sessions or practice matches may be played on the main square in the four days leading up to the relevant franchise's first home match of the season", the BCCI notice mentioned.

"During this period, if requested by the home franchise, the State Association should make an alternative practice ground available to the franchise at no cost to the franchise", it also added.

The home team will have an advantage over the away team before a match

The board also mentioned that the home will have some advantages over the visiting teams. Though, the visiting sides' requests will be taken seriously.

"Though the home team should get the first choice of a preferred session, the away team's request will be taken into account, particularly if it has played a match on the previous day, and taking into consideration the travel arrangements of the away team", BCCI states.

"If the home and away teams wish to practice at the same time, BCCI will ask the two team managers to try and resolve the double booking - either by one of the teams taking another session or by the two teams sharing the session", according to the guidelines.

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