The Indian cricket board BCCI is setting out the roadmap for eventual banning of any form of tobacco, alcohol and crypto currency promotions. Whether such a ban will also impact the media rights holders and in what way is still unclear.

According to a PTI report yesterday, the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) in its apex council meeting next week in Kolkata will deliberate on several cricketing issues, including the Women’s ODI World Cup, venues for ICC events it will be hosting later this year and a ban on tobacco and crypto promotions during and after cricket matches.

The PTI report quoted from the agenda of the Kolkata meeting of the BCCI apex council. Item No. 9 in the agenda read: “Discussion regarding sponsorship from tobacco and crypto brands.”

India’s Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Atul Goel, in a letter early March had written to IPL Commissioner Arun Singh Dhumal, copying BCCI President Roger Binny, exhorting the cricket body to bring in rules that would shutter out tobacco and alcohol ads, including surrogate ones, during the IPL’s 18th edition starting March 22.

Whether a decision of the apex council will come into effect this IPL season only was not clear from the PTI report.

The subject line of the DGHS letter to IPL commissioner, reviewed by Indianbroadcastingworld.com, read: Regulate tobacco and alcohol advertisements including surrogate advertisements and sales during IPL season starting 22 March,2025.

Pointing out that India is experiencing a significant burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.— that account for more than 70 percent deaths annually, the Health Ministry urged the IPL organisers to take proactive initiatives to lower such health risks.

“The Indian Premier League being India’s most viewed sports event, direct or indirect promotion of tobacco/alcohol on any platform linked to sports sends a contradictory message to the public about health and fitness,” the DGHS letter articulated.

It also listed out the possible regulations regarding this that could be adopted by the IPL and the BCCI and which included the following:

# Banning all forms of tobacco/alcohol advertising, including surrogate advertisements, within the stadium premises where the games and related IPL games/events are held as well as during telecast sessions on national television.

# The (ban of) sale of tobacco/alcohol products in all affiliated events and sports facilities.

# Discourage promotion of sports persons (including commentators) who directly or indirectly endorse products directly or indirectly linked to alcohol or tobacco.

“Cricket players are role models for the youngsters for promoting a healthy, active lifestyle…IPL, being the largest sports platform in the country, has a social and moral obligation to promote public health and support health initiatives of the government,” the DGHS letter concluded.