The International Cricket Council on Monday expressed surprise at film star Shah Rukh Khan's statement that its anti-corruption unit had asked him not to be with the team on the playing field, saying the IPL tournament is being played under the Board of Control for Cricket in India's rules and regulations.
The ICC said the IPL is a domestic tournament and the game's governing body does not have any role in formulating the rules.
"The reported incident has nothing to do with the ICC as IPL is a domestic tournament which is being held under the Rules and Regulations of the BCCI," an ICC spokesman said from Dubai.
"Furthermore, the ICC Board in its meeting held in Dubai on 17-18 March had decided that IPL will introduce a code of conduct, an anti-corruption code and an anti-doping code that complies with ICC regulations," he said.
Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan had on Sunday night claimed he had been barred by the ICC anti-corruption unit from going to the team dug out and dressing room for the remaining IPL matches.
"I like to hang around with the boys. I am very energetic. I am very disappointed that the ICC has stopped me," he said.
"I don't know the ICC rules. I'll tell only one thing: Nobody dare stop me from coming to Kolkata. I'll be here whenever my team plays a match at the Eden," Khan said.
Asked whether Shah Rukh needed an accreditation for the IPL matches, the ICC spokesman said, "Everybody needs an accreditation and these are in line with the anti-corruption code. BCCI is following the anti-corruption code. Now I don't know what modifications they have made to the code."
Knight Riders CEO Joy Bhattacharya played down the incident and said Shah Rukh was actually stopped by security personnel for not carrying a visitors' pass.
"Look there is nothing like that. It was a gentleman from the security who stopped Shah Rukh Khan. He said Shah Rukh didn't have a valid visitor's pass... I don't think there is any controversy or issue," he said.
He said the ICC rules are to ensure that bookies don't enter the dressing room.
"When these rules were framed, the concept of franchisee owners' domestic tournament didn't even come, the law was not framed to stop people like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Mukesh Ambani or Vijay Mallya from walking into the dressing room," he said.
"According to even ICC regulations, there is a system of visitor's pass, the manager and team management sign it. The person can be allowed in the dressing room as long as it is signed by them. So there is no way to stop Shah Rukh from entering the dressing room," Bhattacharya added.
