BCCI to introduce strict rules to end 'girlfriend culture' during IPL matches

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly preparing to introduce stricter rules to save Indian cricket from the trap of "girlfriend culture" during the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, shortly after similar rules were introduced for the Indian players, featuring in international matches as well. In a bid to streamline the protocols and maintain team discipline and professionalism in the biggest cricket leagues.

The issue has been making headlines after several high-profile cricketers – Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Arshdeep Singh – have been spotted with their respective girlfriends at team hotels, often accompanying them to the team bus as well.

"We are discussing this among ourselves. It will be discussed in the next BCCI meeting. There is no problem with wives and family members staying in the hotel with the players, but we will have to be a little more serious about girlfriends," a BCCI official said in a report as quoted by Jagran. 

The official further added that introducing this rule first helped the board end the culture in the Indian team, but it was limited to wives and immediate family members and did not specify girlfriends. Now, plans to not allow girlfriends to stay with players in team hotels are being laid out for the IPL as well. This plan will also help in streamlining of the IPL's anti-corruption protocols.

"We made this rule, and something will have to be done regarding the IPL too. Previously in IPL, girlfriends were not allowed to stay in players' hotels, but now it has become a trend. I spoke to an officer from the IPL's anti-corruption unit about this, and he told us that we have been asked to allow wives and 'officially announced girlfriends' to stay together," the official added.

Another important aspect of players' girlfriends is that a lot of them are quite popular on the internet as social media influencers. This riskens the team or insider information being leaked out, whether or not unintentionally.

"Sir, we're just doing it that way. It's certain that the BCCI will now introduce stricter rules regarding whether or not to stay with a girlfriend," an officer in IPL's anti-corruption unit said.

While international matches do not allow for the violation of anti-corruption protocol, as the situation is completely under the control of the BCCI, the IPL teams are privately managed, and there are ten different franchises, making it relatively difficult for the board to keep an eye on all the movements happening off the field.