A Tamil Nadu cricketer has escaped a possible two-year ban after being caught texting his girlfriend during a match, according to PTI.The 26-year-old left-handed batter has instead been fined INR 100,000 by the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) for violating the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocol during a recent Tamil Nadu Premier League match.

A senior Tamil Nadu Cricket Association official said the player was found using a mobile phone to text his girlfriend during the match.While no corruption allegations have been levelled against the cricketer, the use of mobile phones inside the PMOA during a match is prohibited and was treated as a protocol violation.The TNCA has not revealed the player’s identity as an investigation remains ongoing, but confirmed that he is a left-handed batter who scored two half-centuries for Tamil Nadu during the previous Ranji Trophy season.

According to the report, authorities had initially considered imposing a two-year ban on the player.However, considering the nature of the offence and the absence of any corruption allegation, the player was eventually let off with a INR 100,000 fine.