Impact of Family Presence on Foreign Tours
A BCCI official based in Mumbai stated that during discussions, it was suggested to include key points in the guidelines. The primary focus was on restricting the stay of wives and families accompanying cricketers during the entire tour. It is believed that their constant presence, particularly during foreign tours, affects the players’ performance.
Family Stay Restricted to Limited Days
Under the new guidelines, in tournaments lasting 45 days or more, wives and families will only be allowed to stay with the players for 14 days. For shorter tours, this period will be capped at seven days. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India lost 1-3, several cricketers’ families were present in Australia throughout the series.
Stricter Travel Rules for Players
In recent years, some players opted to travel separately instead of using the team bus, raising concerns about team unity. Moving forward, all players must travel by the team bus. Regardless of their stature, no player will be allowed to travel separately.
Restrictions on Gautam Gambhir’s Manager
Gautam Gambhir’s manager, Gaurav Arora, has also come under scrutiny. Unlike previous head coaches, Gambhir has a personal manager who stays with him during tours. The new guidelines will bar Arora from staying in the team hotel, sitting in the VIP box at the stadium, or travelling on the team bus or the accompanying support vehicle.
Players Must Bear Airline Costs for Excess Baggage
Players exceeding 150 kg in weight during air travel will have to bear the costs of excess baggage themselves. BCCI will no longer cover these additional expenses.
Tenure of Support Staff to Be Revised
Following the defeat in the Australia series, questions have arisen about the performance of the Indian team’s support staff. Many staff members have been with the team for several years, leading to stagnation in performance. The BCCI has decided to fix their tenure at two years, extendable by one more year based on performance. This means several support staff members are likely to be replaced soon.
Key Highlights of the BCCI’s New Guidelines at a Glance
- Cricketers’ wives will no longer be allowed to stay for the entire tour.
- A cricketer’s family can stay for a maximum of two weeks during a 45-day tour.
- All players must travel by the team bus; separate travel arrangements will not be permitted.
