Karnataka T20 league drops player after ACU caution

The governing council of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL), a T20 league organised in Karnataka, has asked one of its franchises to drop a player following an advisory from the BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). Although the KPL organisers have not divulged the name of the player, it is understood that he was purchased by the Bellary Tuskers franchise for Rs 10,000 during the recent auction.

The BCCI's ACU had reportedly advised against allowing the player to enter team hotel and dressing rooms and interacting with other players and officials during the IPL. According to the newspaper Deccan Herald, an email had been sent to IPL franchises during the tournament with a picture of the player.

Despite the ACU caution, the player, who has featured in a Division 3 team in Group 1 of the local league organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), entered the auction for the third edition of the tournament, as the organisers were unaware of the ACU's warning.

Vinay Mrutyunjaya, the KSCA spokesperson, told ESPNcricinfo that the governing council had moved quickly once the matter was brought to its attention. "The KPL governing council unanimously insisted the franchise should drop the player," he said.

An unnamed source in the Deccan Herald said the player in question had been spotted at T20 leagues in other countries, too: "He [the player] has been spotted not just at IPL but also at other T20 leagues in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh without any apparent reason. He is neither a player and nor part of any team set-up but still he used to hang around team hotels and try to get close to players. The ACU took note of it and shot off an email to all the franchises to keep a distance from him."

While there is reportedly no evidence against the player, the KPL was forced to take remedial steps due to his presence in the auction.