Wives Can't Stay For Entire Tournaments: BCCI's New Rules After Australia Tour Fiasco (image-X/BCCI)
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Following the disastrous tour of Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to impose strict guidelines against the Indian cricket team. According to reports, the Indian cricket board will limit family time for the Indian players and will not allow players’ wives or girlfriends to travel with them for more than two weeks on a tour.
It is also likely to introduce performance-based variable pay structure for its contracted players soon, reported the Indian Express.
According to reports, the rules also make it compulsory for players to travel together in team buses instead of separately.
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Notably, both Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah travelled separately with their families between cities during the recent tour.
The new guidelines come amid India’s loss at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 in Australia. Some reports also stated the atmosphere in the dressing room was off as well, with one report claiming that the Indian team did not celebrate their historic win in Perth together.
Rules Suggested By The BCCI
- Families will only be allowed to stay with players for 14 days if a tournament is a 45-day or longer event.
- If the tour is shorter, the duration may be reduced to 7 days.
- Wives cannot stay with players for the entire tournament.
- All players are required to travel on the team bus.
- If players’ luggage exceeds 150 kg, they have to pay the extra charges themselves. BCCI will not cover the expenses.
- Gautam Gambhir’s personal manager will not be allowed to sit in the VIP box or travel on the team bus. He will be required to stay in a different hotel.
In a recently held review meeting with Rohit Sharma, Gambhir, BCCI President Roger Binny and secretary elect Devajit Saikia, after the Australia series, the BCCI decided to avoid strong reactions in terms of the combination of the team since the Champions Trophy is scheduled in around six weeks’ time. Any immediate reaction could hurt the team and support staff.
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The Australia tour was also marred with controversies regarding Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, who projected himself as the interim captain, and then Rohit Sharma dropping himself from the side in the final match of the series.
