ECB exploring Head Coach Brendon McCullum’s relationship with bookmaker 22Bet India

IPL betting ads featuring Brendon McCullum geoblocked in New Zealand.

Brendon McCullum has found himself in a soup as advertisements in the ongoing IPL 2023 featuring him promoting betting sites have been geoblocked in New Zealand and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is exploring his relationship with bookmaker 22Bet India.

The IPL betting ads featuring the former New Zealand captain have been geoblocked in New Zealand after a complaint from the country's Problem Gambling Foundation to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). The DIA confirmed that the adverts for 22Bet India are misleading.

The department further stated that "they are not a registered New Zealand sports bookmaker, nor are they licensed or regulated in New Zealand by the DIA".

McCullum's deal with the Cyprus-registered company was announced in November 2022, six months after he was appointed to his current role with the England men's side. However, over the past few weeks, adverts on YouTube and posts from the 41-year-old's social media feeds have come under scrutiny, particularly in New Zealand.

“The IPL Is Coming, And I Think All Cricket Fans Are Excited For This Big Event. My Friends At 22Bet Are Ready To Make Your IPL Experience Even More Fascinating. 22Bet India Guarantees The Best Odds," McCullum has said in a video posted on Facebook.

"Bet 2 play, Bet 2 win," he has captioned one of his videos.

We have rules in place around gambling, exploring Brendon McCullum’s relationship with 22Bet India

The Problem Gambling Foundation also contacted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) who is now "exploring" McCullum's relationship with the online betting platform.

In response to McCullum's relationship with Bet22 India, the ECB released the following statement: "We Are Currently Exploring The Matter, And [Are] In Discussions With Brendon Around His Relationship With The Cypriot-Based Betting Company, 22Bet. We Have Rules In Place Around Gambling, And Will Always Seek To Ensure These Are Followed."

The ECB's anti-corruption code states "participants" are prohibited from "directly or indirectly enticing, persuading, encouraging or facilitating any other party to enter into a bet in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any match or competition".

McCullum's agent, Simon Auteri told the Times newspaper in a statement: "We Are Speaking To The ECB About This. I Am Not Going To Comment On Anything. We Are Working Through It."

Since taking over as head coach, McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have led the Test side to ten wins out of 12.