MUMBAI: Cricket’s newest fielding restriction isn’t about where players stand, but what they wear. The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has barred players, support staff and match officials from carrying or using smart sunglasses inside restricted match-day areas during IPL 2026, tightening its grip on wearable technology amid growing security concerns. In an advisory sent to franchises, the ACSU said a number of companies had recently been promoting smart eyewear products to players and team personnel. Unlike conventional sunglasses, these devices can livestream, send and receive text messages, and make audio and video calls through mobile data or Wi-Fi connections.
The board has classified the gadgets as both communication and audio-video recording devices under the Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) Minimum Standards. As a result, their use and possession have been prohibited inside high-security zones such as dressing rooms, dugouts and other controlled team areas on match days.
Under the new directive, players and support staff must deposit smart sunglasses with the security liaison officer before entering restricted areas, alongside mobile phones and smartwatches. The ACSU warned that failure to surrender such devices would be treated as a breach of PMOA regulations and could attract disciplinary action under IPL 2026 rules.
The move is the latest in a series of efforts by the BCCI to tighten operational protocols during the tournament. Earlier this season, Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs 1 lakh and formally warned after being seen using a mobile phone in the dugout during a match.
IPL 2026 has also seen stricter oversight of player conduct off the field, with the board introducing additional measures including restrictions on late-night outings without security clearance and tighter controls on visitors accessing team hotels.
As wearable technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, the challenge for cricket’s watchdogs is no longer just keeping an eye on the game. It is making sure the game is not being watched, recorded or communicated through devices hidden in plain sight.
