Tamil Nadu cricketer fined Rs 1 lakh, banned rest of season for breach

A young Tamil Nadu cricketer has been fined Rs 1 lakh (100,000 Indian rupees) and barred from the remainder of the Tamil Nadu Premier League season after breaching anti-corruption protocols by using a mobile phone in the team dugout during a match. The incident, which involved the player texting his girlfriend, has prompted an ongoing investigation by cricket authorities.

According to reports from the Board of Control for Cricket in India's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACCSU), the violation occurred on August 10, 2026, during a TNPL match at the NPR College ground in Dindigul. The player, an all-rounder who made his Ranji Trophy debut for Tamil Nadu last season, was found to have a mobile phone in the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), which is strictly prohibited. The ACCSU confirmed that the device was recovered and that the player could not provide a satisfactory explanation when confronted.

"Using a mobile phone in the PMOA during the course of a match is prohibited. Hence, it is a protocol breach," a senior Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) official stated, emphasizing that no corruption or contact with bookies was linked to the incident. The ACCSU...