BCCI issues curbs on personal staff, family travel, endorsement shoots during tours for centrally-contracted cricketers; violators may face IPL ban | Cricket News

Days after the BCCI conducted a review meeting to assess the debacle Down Under, it has sent 10 guidelines to India’s centrally-contracted players. Among these guidelines, accessed The Indian Express, participation in domestic tournaments is mandatory for selection and tops the l followed rules for family travel, baggage allowance, and restrictions on personal staff, ad shoots and a ban on players returning home if matches end early.
To underline the severity of these guidelines, the BCCI has stated that any player who doesn’t comply with it may face disciplinary action which includes sanctions from playing tournaments conducted the board including the Indian Premier League and deduction in annual contract and match fee.
Exceptions if any must be pre-approved the head coach and chief selector, the policy document for Team India stated.
After India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in Australia earlier this month questions were raised about the team atmosphere and the cohesion in the side. As previously reported this newspaper, there have been differences in the set-up and in the aftermath of the defeat, apart from the performances of the established players, other issues were discussed in the review meeting which was attended the top brass of the BCCI, captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.
Domestic cricket mandatory
The BCCI stressing that playing domestic cricket is mandatory is the second such notice in less than 12 months after former secretary Jay Shah had written one in the middle of the home series against England earlier in February 2024. Since then, little has changed with top players including the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, who all struggled in Australia, choosing not to turn up for the Duleep Trophy tournament which was held before the start of the Test season. Following the review meeting, few of the players, including Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, have already committed to play the next round of Ranji fixtures starting on January 23 with no clarity on the participation of Rohit, Kohli and Jadeja for their respective state units.
The BCCI has stated that these guidelines have been introduced to promote discipline, unity and a positive team environment as it has also banned the presence of personal chefs, security guards, hairdressers and styls on tours. But how much of it is well received the players remains to be seen, especially with regards to not having chefs on tours. Some of the big name Indian players take chefs on tours to manage their diet which is programmed according to their personal needs.
Similarly, in recent years, it has become a common habit for players to use private vehicles once their training or practice session is done to commute to the hotel and vice versa. To end this practice, the BCCI has now made it mandatory for all the players to only use the team bus even if players have families accompanying them to the ground on match days. “All players are expected to travel with the team to and from matches and practice sessions. Separate travel arrangements with families are discouraged to maintain discipline and team cohesion.”
The BCCI has also decided to go back to its old policy with regards to families on tours. In recent years, especially since the onset of Covid, players were allowed to let their family stay for the entire duration of the tour. In several such instances the support staff have revealed privately how some of the players are not available for informal team meetings and planning sessions, instead choosing to spend time with family.
Now the BCCI will go back to its old policy which has been around since the central contract system was introduced which will allow players to have their families (partners and children) for a maximum of 14 days, provided an away tour longer than 45 days.
And unlike recent years, players have been told to attend the practice sessions in full which means the optional training sessions may not be allowed going forward. Indian players usually don’t opt for full practice sessions on the eve of a game and it remained optional under the tenure of Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.
No shoots during a tour
New restrictions have also been set with regards to players attending endorsement programmes in the middle of a series and tour. “Players are not permitted to engage in personal shoots or endorsements during an ongoing series or tour. This policy avoids dractions and ensures players remain focused on cricket and team responsibilities.”

Lastly, the BCCI has also decided to end the habit of players returning home individually at the end of tours. Of late, it has become common for players to head home separately at the conclusion of tours at home and abroad. And the BCCI has put a full stop to it with this reason: “Players must stay with the team until the scheduled end of the match series or tour, even if matches conclude earlier than planned. This ensures unity, fosters team bonding, and avoids disruption to team dynamics.”

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