Recently, International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned the smartwatches from the field of play as well as the dressing room. Now, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also decided to maintain the same rule in Indian Premier League (IPL) as now they have banned the smartwatches in the cash-rich tournament.

According to Mirror, the BCCI’s ACU (Anti-Corruption Unit) chief Neeraj Kumar has confirmed the news by stating, “The measure is in place in the IPL too. We check every player before he goes out to the ground. Smart phones have to be surrendered. The move has been taken considering smartwatches can be used as communication devices.”

Recently, in the ongoing Test match between England and Pakistan at Lord’s, two Pakistan cricketers Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam were seen wearing the smartwatches.

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Soon, ICC has clarified that the smartwatches are strictly prohibited on the field and areas designated as PMOA (Player and Match Officials Area).

ICC stated on that, “Under the Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) Regulations, smart watches are not permitted to be worn on the field and in areas designated as PMOA. Communications devices are prohibited within the PMOA and no player is allowed to be in possession of or use a communications device which is connected to the internet whilst there.

“Smart watches in any way connected to a phone or WI-FI or in any way capable of receiving communications are not allowed and as such we will be reminding players that such devices must be surrendered along with their mobile devices on arrival at the ground on match days. I didn’t know earlier that anyone was wearing one (a smart watch),” added on that statement.

At the end of day one of the ongoing Lord’s Test, Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali quoted, “An ICC anti-corruption officer came to us and told us this is not allowed. So next time nobody will wear them.”