The union health ministry is reportedly planning to instruct the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to remove all advertisements and hoardings for pan masala, gutka, and tobacco products from cricket stadiums.

These include surrogate advertisements by gutka companies, often endorsed by Bollywood stars and former cricketers. Surrogate ads for ‘elaichi’ mouth fresheners have featured former cricketers like Chris Gayle, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Virender Sehwag.

According to a report, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), under the health ministry, will request the BCCI to cease displaying surrogate advertisements for tobacco products.

“Cricket matches are highly popular among the youth. There have been multiple instances of surrogate smokeless tobacco ads being displayed during matches and celebrity endorsements. This indirectly targets young viewers. The health ministry’s DGHS may communicate to the BCCI, urging them to stop showing any form of tobacco-related ads,” an official told Live Mint.

Additionally, a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vital Strategies, published in the British Medical Journal in May, found that 41.3% of all surrogate ads for smokeless tobacco (SLT) brands in 2023 were shown during the last 17 matches of the ODI World Cup.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has notably gained a negative reputation due to the numerous tobacco product hoardings displayed within the stadium.