The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reaffirmed that the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Indian national team will remain in effect. This includes the policy regarding allowing family members to accompany players on international tours.
Devajit Saikia, Secretary of the BCCI, stated that maintaining the current policy is crucial for both the country and the BCCI as an institution. He emphasized that the present regulations are considered paramount at this time.
Following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the BCCI implemented a ten-point SOP. A key aspect of this policy was to limit the presence of family members on overseas tours. According to this rule, players can be accompanied by their spouses and children under 18 years of age for a maximum of two weeks, provided the tour duration exceeds 45 days. This policy was tested during the recent Champions Trophy and led to some dissatisfaction among players.
Virat Kohli expressed his viewpoint at an event in Bengaluru, stating that players naturally desire their families to be with them for normalcy and to separate their personal life from the pressures of the game.
Saikia acknowledged that the BCCI is aware of potential objections or varying opinions, which are expected in a democratic environment. He clarified that the policy is consistently applied to all members of the team, including players, coaches, management, and support staff, and is intended to serve everyone’s best interests.
The BCCI Secretary highlighted that this policy is not new and has been in practice for many years, possibly even before the tenure of current BCCI president Roger Binny as a player.
He explained that the current policy is an updated version of the previous one, incorporating guidelines for practice sessions, match schedules, tours, luggage, team travel, and other related activities, all aimed at fostering team unity and cohesion.
The BCCI secretary indicated a possibility for future adjustments, noting that any modifications would need to be considered through a formal process.
He mentioned that the BCCI has already extended the permitted duration for family stays during overseas tours and has provisions to relax the rules under specific circumstances, but these would be subject to a formal review process.
