BCCI threatens suspensions to employees for leaking critical information to media

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has threatened to suspend its employees for violating the guidelines of their contract and giving interviews to the media. The world’s richest cricket board isn’t happy for the fact that critical information is being leaked.

The BCCI is currently in a bit of a fix as the Indian Premier League (IPL) stands postponed for an indefinite time period due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Indian board is looking for a window to host the tournament as cancellation could lead to significant losses.

Now BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, also the son of Union Minister Amit Shah, has given the employees a heads-up. He sent out an email to almost one hundred employees working at the Mumbai office and the Bengaluru office at the National Cricket Academy.

BCCI sends out a strong message

“It has been brought to our notice that some of the BCCI employees are going out in the media and giving interviews. This is against employees’ contract and poses risk of leaking out critical information of the organisation,” Shah’s office was quoted as saying in Cricket Next.

“It is expected that all of you, whether intentionally or unintentionally, who are leaking any critical information to the media or giving interview without permission from the office-bearers will address this situation immediately.

“If in future any current employee of BCCI, without prior permission, gives any kind of information to the media via any communication channel, they will have to face disciplinary action, up to and including suspension without pay and termination of employment,” the letter added.

In the meantime, back in March, it was learned that the BCCI would be working from home. It was before PM Narendra Modi announced the lock-downs in the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. All domestic and international tournaments had to be deferred in the situation.

Earlier, Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, said that the board is trying its best to stage the IPL even amidst the current scenario. He was of the opinion that the games could take place behind closed doors. Reports of the IPL taking place abroad are also doing the rounds.