According to several sources, the BCCI are set to implement strict protocols on the Indian cricketers regarding the time they spend with their families on tours.
What are the restrictions about?
As per the reports, the immediate families of the cricketers (their partners and children) cannot be with them with up to 14 days on a tour of 45 days or longer. This 14-day phase begins only after the first two weeks of the tour. On shorter tours, they can accompany the cricketers for a week or less.
Why this, all of a sudden?
These protocols used to be the part of player contracts, but had been relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the cricketers had to enter biosecure bubbles ahead of, and sometimes during, the tours. The changes were made to ensure the families could be part of the bubble.
Who used to sponsor travel for the cricketers’ families?
While the BCCI did not fund the travel for the families, they used to pay for their accommodation. That is not going to change.
Is this the only change that is going to happen?
The BCCI has also mandated that every cricketer should travel in the team bus. There have been recent violations to this. On India’s recent Australia tour, Yashasvi Jaiswal had reportedly come in for some flak from the team management for missing the bus.
The BCCI will also not pay for more than 150 kg of luggage for cricketers on the tour. According to former Test cricketer Aakash Chopra, the usual cricket kitbag does not exceed 40 kg.
