Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu Cricketer Fined Rs 1 Lakh for Texting Girlfriend
A cricket player from Tamil Nadu got into trouble.
He was caught sending text messages to his girlfriend on his phone.
He was sitting in the dugout, the area where players sit during a match.
Cricket rules do not allow players to use phones there.
The rule exists so that bad people cannot share secret information with gamblers.
The cricket association first thought about banning him for two years.
But they decided the mistake was not that serious.
So instead, they made him pay a fine of one lakh rupees, which is a lot of money.
The player's name has not been shared while the investigation continues.
Another cricket manager also had to pay the same fine for using his phone in the dugout before.
BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit fined a Tamil Nadu cricketer Rs 1 lakh for texting his girlfriend from the dugout during a TNPL match.
The unnamed 26-year-old left-handed batter was found using a mobile phone in the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), a breach of anti-corruption protocol.
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association considered a two-year ban but imposed only the fine, saying the offense was not 'grave' in nature.
No corruption charges have been leveled against the player, who scored two fifties for Tamil Nadu in last year's Ranji Trophy.
The case follows a similar incident in the IPL 2026 season, when Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs 1 lakh for using his phone in the dugout.
- Who
- An unnamed 26-year-old left-handed Tamil Nadu batter, fined by the BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
- What
- The player was fined Rs 1 lakh for texting his girlfriend in the dugout during a TNPL match, a breach of PMOA protocol.
- When
- Reported on August 14, 2026, following a recent Tamil Nadu Premier League match.
- Where
- During a Tamil Nadu Premier League match; the reports were issued from New Delhi.
- Why
- Using a mobile phone in the PMOA is prohibited under anti-corruption regulations, which aim to stop corrupt individuals from sharing details with bookies.
Stricter Punishment View
Lighter Punishment View
Severity of the Offense
Stricter Punishment View
The offense warranted a harsher punishment, with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association initially considering a two-year ban for the player.
Lighter Punishment View
The player was let off with a Rs 1 lakh fine because the offense was not 'grave' in nature and no corruption charges were leveled.
Effectiveness of the Phone Ban
Stricter Punishment View
The ban on phone use in the dugout is enforced to cut down chances of corrupt individuals sharing details with bookies, justifying strict fines.
Lighter Punishment View
The rule has an obvious loophole since phone use is not prohibited inside the dressing room, as highlighted by the earlier Romi Bhinder incident.
- Fine Amount
- Rs 1 lakh
- Player
- Unnamed 26-year-old left-handed Tamil Nadu batter; scored two fifties in last year's Ranji Trophy
- Penalty Imposed By
- BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU)
- Reason
- Texting his girlfriend from the dugout, breaching PMOA protocol
- Corruption Charges
- None leveled
- Initially Considered Punishment
- Two-year ban by TNCA, dropped as the offense was not 'grave'
- Similar Incident
- Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder fined Rs 1 lakh in IPL 2026 for phone use in the dugout
- Date of Report
- August 14, 2026
