Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed seems to have landed himself in major trouble. As India locked horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe, Ahmed, who has been touring as the mentor to the boys in green, was seen using a mobile phone near the dressing room.
Ahmed’s photo, with a mobile phone in hand, has gone viral on social media, with fans questioning why the Pakistan team mentor was allowed to use it. The ICC guidelines strictly prohibit the members of the team engaging in a fixture from carrying a communication device in the Players and Match Officials Areas (PMOA).
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s phone use during the U19 match raises valid questions, given ICC’s strict bans on communication devices in the PMOA.
The
rules aim to prevent match-fixing, with violations potentially leading to severe penalties, even a lifetime ban. This incident puts focus on… pic.twitter.com/YGcehpXxB5
— Gully Point (@gullypoint_) February 1, 2026
What do ICC rules say about PMOA?
4.1 Subject strictly to the exceptions set out in Article 4.2, the following prohibitions shall apply from the moment that the first Player of any participating team enters the PMOA for an International Match right through until the formal conclusion of the day’s play:
4.1.1 No person shall be allowed to use and/or carry any Mobile Device for any reason whatsoever, whether to access the Internet or otherwise, in the PMOA.
4.1.2 No person shall be allowed to use and/or carry any laptop computer (or any other similar communication device) for any reason whatsoever, whether to access the Internet or otherwise, in the PMOA
Can Sarfaraz Avoid A Sanction?
Notably, despite the ICC’s restrictions, there is a provision that allows a team manager to carry one mobile phone strictly for official purposes. Therefore, the device used by Sarfaraz could fall within this permitted exception. Here’s what the ICC regulations state.
4.2.1 Each team manager shall be permitted to carry a Mobile Device within the PMOA, provided that it can only be used either: (a) by him/her for cricket operations purposes; and/or (b) by any Player or Player Support Personnel for any important personal matter, provided that the team manager has given his express permission to the Player or Player Support Personnel before such use;
4.2.2 Each team media manager shall be permitted to carry a Mobile Device within the PMO. Any such device must be turned into silent mode at all times whilst such an individual is in the PMOA and must not be used for any purpose inside the PMOA.
