EXCLUSIVE | Arun Dhumal dismisses honey-trap concerns, asserts IPL 2026 a ‘clean tournament’
TimesofIndia.com in Mullanpur: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia triggered an uproar on social media earlier this month when he used the term “honey-trap” during a media interaction. Moments after his comments, speculation spread, and fans began harassing cricketers’ partners on social media platforms.Saikia urged franchises to remain vigilant throughout the IPL season, and the BCCI issued a directive flagging concerns over protocol breaches.“It has come to the attention of the BCCI that certain incidents of misconduct and protocol violation have occurred involving players, support staff, and team officials during the course of the current IPL season. These incidents, if left unaddressed, carry the potential to cause significant reputational harm to the tournament, the franchise concerned, and the BCCI as the governing body. They may further expose individuals and franchises to legal liability and security risks of a serious nature,” Saikia wrote to the CEOs of the 10 franchises.However, IPL governing council chairman Arun Dhumal clarified that no issue related to “honey-trapping” had surfaced in this edition of the IPL.“There has been no issue as such with regard to honey-trapping or things like that, to my knowledge. This is a very clean tournament,” said Dhumal to TimesofIndia.com.“Yes, there have been some issues. For example, the Riyan Parag [vaping] incident, which we could have avoided. Barring that, I don’t think there was any such incident,” he added.
… the Riyan Parag incident we could have avoided. Barring that, I do not think there was any such incident
IPL governing council chairman Arun Dhumal
When asked about BCCI secretary Saikia’s specific comment on honey trapping, the IPL chairman said: “I am not privy to any such information either. He would be the best person to comment on that. But nothing of the sort has happened in this edition, as far as my understanding and knowledge go. I haven’t heard his comment, so I would not want to comment on that.”Dhumal lavishly praised IPL 2026 season, calling it “phenomenal.”“It’s been a phenomenal season this year. Like all the previous editions, till the last day of the league stage we did not know which would be the fourth team to qualify. That is the excitement around the IPL every season. The quality of games that we have had so far has been phenomenal,” he said.
