Following India’s 1-3 defeat to Australia in their latest Test series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering implementing stricter disciplinary measures to improve team management and conduct during future tours.
Proposed Measures
- Restricting Presence of Spouses and Families:
- For tours exceeding 45 days, spouses and families would be allowed to accompany players for a maximum of two weeks.
- For shorter tours, the presence of spouses could be limited to one week.
- Mandatory Use of Team Bus: All players and support staff will be required to use the team bus for travel during assignments. This rule, which has been followed by most players, will now be strictly enforced to ensure team cohesion and avoid logistical issues.
- Barring Personal Managers on Team Bus: Personal managers of players and coaching staff will no longer be allowed on the team bus due to concerns raised by the anti-corruption unit and potential disruptions to team protocols.
- Luggage Restrictions: Players will be held responsible for excess baggage charges if their luggage exceeds 150kg during tours.
Concerns Highlighted
- YouTube Content by Player Spouse: A specific incident involving the spouse of a reserve player recording behind-the-scenes content for her YouTube channel raised privacy and security concerns.
- Team Cohesion and Corruption Risks: The presence of personal managers on team buses during the Australia tour prompted the anti-corruption unit to flag potential risks.
Reactions
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra questioned the enforcement of mandatory team bus travel:
“Will all players be required to travel on the team bus? Wasn’t that always the norm? If it isn’t the case anymore, it’s worth finding out who changed that and why.”
Review Meeting and Future Assignments
The proposed measures were discussed in a review meeting attended by skipper Rohit Sharma, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and other senior officials. The review also addressed India’s failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final and their first Test series loss to Australia in a decade.
India’s next overseas Test challenge is a five-match series against England, scheduled to commence in June.