PMOA guidelines in focus as RR manager served notice for phone use in dugout

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a show-cause notice to Romi Bhinder, team manager of Rajasthan Royals, for using a mobile phone during their IPL match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. The notice was sent by the BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), which has sought a response within 48 hours.

The charge relates to the use of a mobile phone in the dugout. Team managers are permitted to use a handset, but only within the dressing room. In this instance, Bhinder was seen using the phone outside that area. It remains a technicality whether he was inside the dugout, as he was seated in front of a refrigerator adjacent to the players' boundary side enclosure.

As per PMOA guidelines, each team manager is permitted to carry a mobile device within the PMOA, provided it is used for cricket operations purposes only, or by any Player or Player Support Personnel for an important personal matter with the manager's express permission.

Another clause states that each team manager is permitted to carry and use a laptop or similar communication device within the PMOA, provided it is used only by them and only for cricket operations purposes of a logistical or administrative nature related to the match or upcoming IPL matches. A guidance note clarifies that any use for personal purposes constitutes a breach.

Bhinder, who recently recovered from a near-fatal lung ailment, was reportedly not in a position to return to the dressing room for health reasons. He is understood to have informed the BCCI of his medical condition prior to the start of the season. Whether the handset was being used for cricket operations purposes is yet to be established.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCCI started permitting the use of two communication devices and has been communicating with team officials through WhatsApp. It is being argued that franchises need to be aware of communications from the BCCI—the very reason mobile phones are permitted.

The Rajasthan Royals team is understood to have had previous Code of Conduct breaches, all relating to dress code violations. A few other teams are also believed to have received notices for similar infringements.