Kohli gets clean chit after seen using walkie-talkie during match
The International Cricket Council today gave a clean chit to Virat Kohli, who was seen using a walkie-talkie, while sitting in the team dugout during the first India-NZ T20I match. With news doing the rounds that Kohli had violated ICC rules on mobile communication usage during a game, ICC clarified that the Indian captain "sought permission from venue ACU manager before using it."
Players can access walkie-talkies under the rules
While mobile phone usage is prohibited in the dressing room, players and support staff can access walkie-talkies, under the new rules.
ICC restrictions on usage of wireless communication
ICC regulations on usage of wireless devices stipulate, "the use of two-way handheld device that uses dedicated frequencies over short distances, like a walkie-talkie, by Player Support Personnel for the purpose of communication between the dugout and dressing room area for medical and/or tactical reasons only, provided such communication devices are suitably encrypted to avoid detection by any 3rd party."
Why were the restrictions brought in?
The incident that led to implementation of ban on usage of wireless devices goes back to the 1999 World Cup when the late South African captain Hansie Cronje was controversially seen communicating with coach Bob Woolmer using an earpiece on the field. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly who caught the act informed umpires about it. This forced the ICC to change the rules.
