BCCI bans smart sunglasses in IPL over anti-corruption concerns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI)’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has announced a ban on players and match officials from carrying or using smart sunglasses inside the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) during the match, citing concerns over their communication and recording capabilities.

In an advisory issued to IPL franchises, the board notified that some companies were marketing smart sunglasses to players and support staff, promoting concerns over possible misuse inside restricted zones.

It said,  “Kindly note that these devices are equipped with advanced communication features, including live streaming, sending and receiving text messages, as well as audio and video calling capabilities through mobile data or Wi-Fi networks.”

Reports suggest that the BCCI instructed players and support staff to deposit smart sunglasses along with mobile phones and smartwatches to the Security Liaison Officer (SLO) before entering the PMOA on match days.

During this season, Rajasthan Royals' Romi Bhinder was reportedly fined ₹1 lakh and issued a warning after he was caught on camera using a phone in the team dugout during a match. In another instance, Riyan Parag was caught vaping e-cigarette. Following these violations, BCCI earlier tightened the security protocols.