Mumbai: A segment of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has proposed to restrict the duration that players can spend with their families during tours.

This proposal was a topic of discussion among board officials during a recent review meeting with the management of the Indian team, following their 3-1 defeat in the Test series against Australia. Should the BCCI choose to enforce this policy, players' partners and family members would be permitted to accompany them for no more than two weeks during a tour that extends beyond six weeks.

The rationale behind this initiative stems from the belief that the continuous presence of families during tours hampers opportunities for team bonding outside of practice sessions. A team official remarked to HT, “Married players often preferred solitude after training, which led to a lack of team dinners, a crucial aspect of fostering team culture. Meanwhile, younger players found themselves isolated.”

After suffering a 3-0 defeat to New Zealand on home soil, India subsequently lost the five-Test series in Australia, despite initially leading 1-0, resulting in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy changing hands for the first time in ten years. Throughout the tour, concerns were raised regarding the performances of Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma, the latter of whom was sidelined for the fifth Test in Sydney due to poor form. The batting lineup consistently underperformed, and several selection decisions were also scrutinized.

During the review meeting held on January 12, which included Rohit and head coach Gautam Gambhir, some BCCI officials proposed that it should be mandatory for players to travel together in team buses. Notably, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah opted to travel separately between cities in Australia with their families. Furthermore, Gambhir’s personal assistant faced scrutiny for frequently being present in the team environment.

Conversely, another BCCI official indicated that the lack of celebration following the Perth Test victory was due to Gambhir's departure for personal matters. “We did have a team gathering after the (drawn) third Test in Brisbane. When results are unfavorable, such issues tend to arise,” he remarked.

Indian cricket has encountered similar situations in the past. The presence of family members during tours is often viewed unfavorably and is cited as a distraction when performance declines. Over the years, the board's policy has evolved from prohibiting families on tours to allowing a two-week stay for families during extended tours, followed by a waiting period before spouses and children can join.

Interestingly, during one of India's most successful periods in Test cricket from 2016 onwards, under the leadership of Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri, the family policy was relaxed. Shastri recently recounted on Fox Sports how he contacted a BCCI official to permit Kohli’s then-girlfriend (now wife) Anushka Sharma to accompany him on tour in 2015. Many of Kohli’s outstanding performances occurred between 2016 and 2019.

The culture of having wives and girlfriends accompany players on tours is prevalent in other sports, often leading to controversy. Former England football team manager Sven Goran Eriksson dismissed claims that the presence of WAGs affected the team's lackluster performance in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, stating, “That is a stupid excuse. Their presence had absolutely nothing to do with the football.”

The Australian cricket team encountered criticism for permitting the presence of WAGs (wives and girlfriends) during their tour following the defeat in the 2005 Ashes series. Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden recounted a significant moment. “During the 2005 Ashes tour, I recall being summoned to what felt like an urgent meeting with coach John Buchanan prior to the fifth Test at The Oval, where I was informed that it would be my final Test match. The thought of my career concluding horrified me. On the morning of the match, at 5:30 am, I received a knock on my hotel room door, and there stood my wife, Kellie, accompanied by our youngest son, Joshua,” he shared in a column for Fox. “Her presence meant everything to me — knowing she was there for my first Test match and would be there for my last. I scored 138 at The Oval, which revitalized my Test career.”

After Shastri's departure, Rahul Dravid, in his role as coach, expressed no objections to families accompanying players on extended overseas tours. “The issue may not lie with family presence during tours. However, it is evident that the team culture has suffered, and there is considerable blame being assigned internally. While it is challenging to identify the exact cause, a lack of chemistry between Gambhir and captain Rohit could be a significant factor,” remarked a member of the team support staff.

Unlikely Pay Cuts

One radical proposal discussed among board officials involved implementing performance-based pay and the possibility of pay cuts for underperforming players. “The new office-bearers are considering various ideas. However, it is improbable that any pay cuts will be enacted,” stated a BCCI official.

“The recently introduced Test match incentive scheme already provides rewards for those selected in the playing eleven and for players participating in more Test matches, offering an annual performance bonus compared to others. Additionally, teams that lose forfeit team bonuses.”

When India triumphed in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, a cash prize of Rs 5 crore was announced. In contrast, following the latest defeat, the team faces criticism and analysis, with careers hanging in the balance.

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