The Indian cricket team’s build-up to the 2025 Champions Trophy is set against the backdrop of strict new guidelines from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which have left players frustrated. A senior cricketer reportedly requested that his wife accompany him to the tournament but was denied by the BCCI, which is enforcing stringent policies on family travel, reports NDTV.
As the team prepares for the prestigious ODI event, the BCCI has emphasized its commitment to a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that governs travel, practice sessions, and personal staff. Among the new rules is a requirement for players to stay for the full duration of scheduled practice sessions and travel together to and from the venues. The BCCI has made it clear that any violation could result in serious consequences.
The policy is non-negotiable, with the board insisting that exceptions, if any, must be at the players’ own expense. A BCCI source confirmed that players’ families, including spouses, are unlikely to join the squad for the less-than-one-month-long tour, with all costs for any deviations from the standard protocol to be borne by the players themselves.
These guidelines have already been in place during recent series, where players have adhered to team travel arrangements and avoided private vehicles for practice. The BCCI is firm in its stance, signaling a new era of discipline within the national team.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
