Mobile phones banned for players at tri-series

The International Cricket Council ban on players using mobile phones is being "strictly" enforced during the ongoing one-day tri-series involving India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka here, sources say.

Sri Lanka's Cricket Board sources revealed they were also keeping a log of calls made and received by the players through the switch board of the hotel where the three teams are staying.

The measures were taken as part of attempts to prevent bookmakers from contacting players following the match-fixing scandal which rocked the game recently.

"What we are implementing is an ICC recommended ban," Sri Lanka's team manager Ajith Jayasekara said. "We are enforcing it very strictly."

From the time the teams leave for the match venues and during play as well as at practice, the players were not allowed to use mobile phones, Jayasekara said.

A website reported there was "speculation" that six Indian bookmakers had checked into the team hotel a day before the Indian team arrived here on Monday.

None of the three teams, however, is accompanied by a ecurity officer as recommended by ICC's anti-corruption unit. But the players remain heavily guarded.

The Taj Samudra hotel floors occupied by the players are guarded by armed members of the elite Ministerial Security Division and only authorised personnel are allowed access.