The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises reportedly 'violated' the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) protocols last year, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team managements confirmed that ACU was happy and satisfied with the explanations provided to them and several IPL franchises were let off.
The ACU, headed by Ravi Sawani, had sent an email to BCCI regarding the violations of protocol by several IPL franchises during the Indian leg of the tournament. The mail mentioned the failures of the franchises to provide ACU with the guest lists of the parties they had arranged and identity of people allowed in players' rooms during the IPL 2014.
One of the events that Sawani stated in his email was about a yacht party that Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) co-owner Preity Zinta had organised where all the players were present including a 'special friend'. ACU was unaware of this unidentified person. There were several other events and instances that Sawani mentioned in his email to the Board.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Daredevils (DD) arranged dinners along with all the players and team management, where many outsiders were invited and were seen up close with the players.
A Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player allowed a 'female friend' to stay in his room overnight without informing the ACU officer on duty and the players later explained that 'female friend' of his was very close to him and later intended to marry her. According to the ACU rules, No one "except blood relations or wife/partner," can be allowed to stay along with the players.
The then IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal said that necessary actions were being taken by the Board. "Our ACU chief Ravi Sawani was constantly in touch with all the franchises. Wherever necessary, he had reprimanded the owners and players concerned," Biswal said in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo.
BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said that the efforts made by the Board to restrict such events were paying off.
"As far the players being approached is concerned, the BCCI education policy is working very well. If someone is being approached by anyone, he has reported back to the anti-corruption unit. I think this is the thing to highlight and admire that the players are reporting back," Thakur said.
