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Cracking the whip on the Indian cricket team’s “star culture”, the BCCI on Thursday unveiled a 10-point policy to promote “discipline and unity”, making domestic cricket mandatory, imposing restriction on the presence of families and personal staff on tours and banning individual commercial endorsements during ongoing series.It is learnt that the restrictions were sought by head coach Gautam Gambhir in a review meeting of the team’s recent poor run.
BCCI’s new Policy
Participation in Domestic Matches
The Board said players must remain available for domestic matches. Any exceptions to this mandate will require formal notification and approval from Agarkar.
“This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure,” the BCCI stated
Players Traveling Separately with Families
Players would be expected to travel with the team to and from matches and practice sessions.The BCCI said that separate travel arrangements with families are being discouraged to maintain “discipline and team cohesion”.Exceptions, if any, must be pre-approved by Gambhir and Agarkar.
Excess Baggage Limit
Players would now be required to adhere to specified baggage limits shared with the team. Any excess baggage costs will need to be borne by the individual. The baggage weight limit for long tours has been placed at 150 kg. This was necessitated after the players, who were travelling with their families, included their partners, children and personal staff’s bags to their account.
Restriction on Individual Staff on Tour/Series
Personal staff, including managers, chefs, assistants and security, are to be restricted on tours or series unless explicitly approved by the BCCI. It started with Gautam Gambhir’s personal manager raising eyebrows with his presence in the team hotel.
While Gambhir has accepted to keep his secretary away, he has ensured that chefs of certain younger star players would also not be readily allowed into the set-up.
Sending Bags Separately to the Centre of Excellence
Players have been told to co-ordinate with the team management on the equipment and personal items sent to the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
“Any additional costs incurred due to separate arrangements will be the player’s responsibility.”
Some senior players have been known to send their equipment or kits much before they arrive for rehab at the NCA and most of them have earned notoriety for not paying for the excess costs.
Leaving Practice Sessions Early
All players would be mandated to stay for the entire duration of scheduled practice sessions and travel together to and from the venue to promote “commitment” and “foster a strong work ethic within the team.”
The move would ensure that star players, who have become used to a separate car to leave the nets as per their wishes, will have to stay for the full duration.
No Personal Shoots During Tours
Players are not permitted to engage in personal shoots or endorsements during an ongoing series or tour.
Family Travel
Players absent from India for more than 45 days during overseas tours can be joined by their partners and children (under 18) for one visit per series (format-wise) of up to two weeks.
Match Completion Policy
Players are required to stay with the team until the scheduled end of the match series or tour, regardless of whether matches conclude earlier than planned.
