Salem franchise player suspended pending inquiry over mobile phone use in PMOA

A player in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) has been found guilty of breaching the tournament's Anti-Corruption Code and has been barred from playing in the remaining matches of the league, pending an inquiry.

The player, believed to be from the Salem franchise, has also been fined Rs 1 lakh. Sources in the TNCA confirmed the incident to Cricbuzz.

The breach involved the player being caught using a mobile phone in the Player and Match Official Area (PMOA). The player, in his mid-20s, is a left-hand batter and right-arm medium pacer who had represented Tamil Nadu in two first-class matches and one List A game last year, including in the Ranji Trophy.

There is no information yet on whether a more serious breach is involved. For now, the sanction stands as a suspension from remaining fixtures and the financial penalty while the inquiry proceeds.

TNCA officials were not immediately available for comment, and its secretary Bhagavan DAs did not respond to text messages from this website. However, sources within the TNCA confirmed the incident.

League context

The 10th season of the TNPL began on August 4, with the final scheduled for August 28. The Salem franchise currently sits atop the points table, making the suspension a notable setback for the league leaders.

The incident underscores the heightened vigilance around corruption and code compliance in domestic T20 leagues, with strict rules governing the use of communication devices in restricted areas during matches.