The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) intends to promote “discipline, unity, and a positive team environment” as the new 10-point directive comes into effect from the ICC Champions Trophy. The board took this decision to make changes after reports of a ‘divided’ team atmosphere emerged in the team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Many changes were made after the ideas of head coach Gautam Gambhir, but as soon as the new decisions came into effect, Gambhir also fell under the influence.
The new BCCI regulations prohibit personal assistants or managers of support personnel from traveling on the team bus with senior players or staying at the same hotel as the players or support staff.
After the trip, Gambhir’s personal assistant, who was by the India coach’s side during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, came under fire from the BCCI. The board is keen to avoid another instance at the Champions Trophy in Dubai. According to reports, the PA is currently lodging at a different hotel than the squad. “The personal secretary of a member of the coaching staff, who was regularly seen staying at the team hotel, now stays at a different facility even though he has been seen at every venue during the England home series,” a media report has claimed.
During the Australia trip, Gambhir was the only member of the coaching staff with a personal assistant. Since the board has formally implemented its revised decision, the coach is no longer permitted to have the same configuration. “Why was his PA sitting in the car specified for national selectors? They can’t even discuss things in private with an unknown third person in the car. Why was he allotted space in the BCCI’s hospitality box in Adelaide?” an BCCI official had told the media after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Some ‘leaks’ were made public during the Australia tour, and leaks from the Indian dressing room have become quite common in the last few months. Now it looks like the board is trying to minimize such ‘leaks’ by not allowing any unauthorized access. “How did he have breakfast in the cordoned-off area of a five-star facility that is just earmarked for the team members?” the BCCI official had asked.
The players will not be permitted to bring their spouses, partners, or family members to the Champions Trophy, according to a BCCI directive. Should an exemption be granted, the player would be responsible for covering the family’s travel expenses. It appears that such precautions were not previously in place.
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