Mohammed Siraj alerted BCCI ACU of the 'corrupt approach'

According to sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Anti-Corruption unit, recent reports that Mohammed Siraj had been approached by a man from Hyderabad to pass on "team information" during the Indian Premier League (IPL) was wrong. The incident actually occurred during India's tour of New Zealand in November 2021, just after the T20 World Cup, and not during the current IPL season. Siraj reportedly received a WhatsApp message from the individual in question while the team was in Napier, New Zealand, and immediately reported the incident to the BCCI's anti-corruption unit officers.

The BCCI regularly conducts anti-corruption workshops for players, and Siraj was aware of what to do in such a situation. The man in question was later apprehended by the Andhra Pradesh Police, indicating that he was possibly a cricket fan who had lost money in betting rather than a bookie. The BCCI ACU has been vigilant during the current IPL season to ensure players' safety, and franchises have been advised to follow the dos and don'ts to prevent any suspicious activity. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, as the BCCI had lodged an FIR against two bookies in 2019 for approaching an Indian women's international under the guise of player managers.