New Delhi: Stung by the twin losses – against New Zealand at home and against Australia away – the Board of Control of Cricket in India have cracked a ten-point whip on the men’s national cricket team. Displeased with reports of dressing-room leaks, and fake news dominating headlines since India’s disastrous tour of Australia, the Indian Cricket Board has announced massive restrictions on the cricketers on national duty including the presence of families as well as personal staff and making domestic cricket mandatory. The Board has also banned individual commercial endorsements during ongoing series.
It is understood that the restrictions were recommended by head coach Gautam Gambhir in a review meeting of the team’s recent poor run.
Any cricketer found not complying with the rules would invite sanctions, including cuts in the players’ retainer fee from central contracts and a ban on participating in the Indian Premier League.
Why did BCCI impose strict guidelines for Indian cricketers?
The guidelines were imposed in the wake of the team’s horror tour Down Under during which the Asian giants lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. The Australian disaster was preceded by a humiliating series whitewash against New Zealand at home.
Meanwhile, a report in Dainik Jagran has revealed that the measures were taken to promote discipline and unity and create an environment where players thrive and perform at their full potential at the insistence of head coach Gautam Gambhir. The report also claimed that Gambhir was not pleased with a wicket-keeper who travels with his personal chef on tours and a batter who keeps an entourage including security guards and a nanny.
The report claimed that some players in the team travel with their personal staff. The BCCI source said that such practices have a negative impact on the team.
Gambhir is hell-bent on finishing the prevalent star culture and the implementation of strict guidelines is the first big step towards achieving the goal.
The board has approved a two-week window for families to stay with the players during overseas tours. Besides restricting the personal staff, the BCCI has also imposed restrictions on commercial shoots.
Here are the reasons why the Board of Control of Cricket in India imposed strict guidelines for Indian cricketers. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
