Mumbai, Mar 9: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to ban Indian players from signing autographs for fans during matches.
According to a report in "The Times of India" on Monday, BCCI is planning to stop its cricketers from obliging fans during IPL, CLT20 and all matches organised by the board in India.
"We have asked cricketers not to give autographs while the match is on, during the IPL, Champions League T20 and all other BCCI-organised matches in India. This could be a method through which bookies may connect with cricketers," KS Madhavan, senior investigating officer of the BCCI's Anti Coruption Unit, told the newspaper during the Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu here at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (March 8).
"Through an autograph book, a bookie can exchange vital information about the match with a player. For example, he can be asked to score a particular number of runs while batting," Madhavan added.
Madhavan said it is a "dangerous exercise" and BCCI is trying to push for a world-wide ban. "It is a dangerous exercise and we (anti-corruption officials of the BCCI and the ICC) are trying to push for a world-wide ban on this," he said.
In India and across the world, the sight of fans chasing their favourite players for autographs and pictures is common. But with BCCI's latest planning many will be disappointed.
OneIndia News