Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) feels that having the opening ceremony of this year’s IPL just 90 minutes before the first game could once again open the gates for potential fixers to get up close and personal to the players.

Meanwhile, CoA has decided to host the opening ceremony just before the game to reduce the cost. According to the itinerary, the opening ceremony will end at 7:15 pm and the captains will walk out for the toss at 7:30 pm.

Previously, the fixing episode in 2013 took some sheen off the cash-rich league. Eventually, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals suffered a two-year ban.

Meanwhile, the two teams will come onto the field to train at 7:15 pm. As a result, one of the bowling ends needs to be clear so that it doesn’t hamper the teams’ preparations.

This means the event organizers will be on the ground with the players for 15 mins, which worries BCCI. Further, they don’t want to take an undue risk as many workers will be on the field to clear it.

A BCCI official while talking to CricketNext, said that treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry has written to CoA to look into this matter.

“As I had stated in the IPL GC, the existence of close to 1000 additional people (workers, crew etc.) on the ground shortly before the game is to be played there may be an anti-corruption risk that we must be aware of to mitigate that risk. This is a thought for the consideration of all of you. This communication is, of course, subject to any decision or view of the Committee of Administrators,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, many Bollywood stars namely Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, etc. will perform at the opening ceremony.

The official stressed that it was a genuine concern and hoped that CoA would ensure tight security.

“The most important section where the captains take the pledge to abide by the spirit of the game is anyway being signed the previous day. So, it doesn’t make sense why the opening is being hosted before the match. With so many people on the field of play wearing accreditations, it will indeed be very easy for any tout to mix in the crowd and pose as an official, to clear the ground post the opening ceremony. The CoA must look into this and ensure top security to keep dubious people out of sight,” he said.