The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that the recently developed SOPs for the Indian team will not alter, including the policy regarding family travel abroad.
On Wednesday, Board Secretary Devajit Saikia told Cricbuzz, “At this point, the current policy will remain intact, as it is of paramount importance to both the nation and our institution, the BCCI.”
The BCCI implemented ten-pointer SOPs after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, one of which was to restrict family members’ attendance on international trips. If the tour lasts more than 45 days, spouses and children (under the age of 18) may travel with the Indian contingent members for a maximum of two weeks under the new regulation. Some players voiced their disapproval of this approach after it was tested during the most recent Champions Trophy.
Do you want your family by your side all the time? Ask any footballer. You’ll say, “Yes.” Going to my room to sit by myself and pout is not what I want to do. Being able to be normal is what I want. At that point, you may truly approach your game as a responsibility. Following a recent event in Bengaluru, Virat Kohli was quoted as stating, “You finish that responsibility, and you come back to life.”
“The BCCI recognizes that there may be some resentment or differing opinions, as in a democratic setup, people are entitled to express their views,” Saikia stated. “The policy is applied uniformly to all team members – players, coaches, managers, support staff, and everyone involved – and has been implemented with the best interests of everyone in mind.”
The secretary of the BCCI stressed that the policy has been in place for a long time and was not implemented abruptly.
“This policy has not been formulated overnight; it has been in place for decades, dating back to the playing days of our president, Roger Binny – and possibly even earlier,” he stated.
“The new policy is an amendment of the previous one, with additional provisions regarding players’ presence at practice sessions, match schedules, tours, luggage, team movements, and other ancillary activities, all aimed at the objective of team cohesion and unity.”
But with the disclaimer that any modifications would only be taken into consideration after a formal procedure, the BCCI secretary left the door open for potential compromises.
“The BCCI has increased the duration of family members’ stay with players during overseas tours, with provisions for relaxing the norms under special circumstances, but this will be done through a proper process,” he stated.
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