Families will not accompany Indian cricket players to Dubai on February 15 for the ICC Champions Trophy, as the BCCI's new travel policy goes into effect for the first time during this competition.
The Indian team begins its campaign in Dubai against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a headline encounter between arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 and the final preliminary match against New Zealand on March 2.
The Rohit Sharma-led group will play its games in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament will take place across three locations in Pakistan beginning on February 19.
Given that the trip lasts just over three weeks, even including the final on March 9, the BCCI will not allow families to join the players. According to the new rules, families can stay with players for up to two weeks during a tour lasting 45 days or more.
"If anything changes, then it is different but as of now, the players are unlikely to be accompanied by their wives or partners for this tour. One of the senior players had enquired about it, and he was told that the policy decision will be followed.
Since the tour is for less than one month, families won't be accompanying the players. But if exceptions are made, I think that individual will have to bear the full expenses as BCCI won't be covering any cost,” a BCCI source told PTI.
The new rules were drafted during India's disastrous trip to Australia, during which the squad was outplayed 1-3, prompting speculation about a lack of discipline and togetherness in the dressing room.
The BCCI policy document states: "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 a two-week period. Any deviation from this policy must be pre-approved by the coach, captain, and GM Operations. Additional expenses outside the visitors' period will not be covered by the BCCI."
Families will, however, accompany the squad on its five-Test tour of England in June, July, and August. The timeframe for their two-week stay throughout the tour will be determined later.
(PTI inputs)
