The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might rethink the family rule that came about after the Test series loss to Australia, says India Today. Apparently, if players want their families around for a while during overseas trips, they’ll need to ask for permission first. This 10-point rule from the BCCI limited how much time families could hang out with players on foreign tours. But recently, Virat Kohli voiced his frustration, saying it’s super important for players to have their families near them during those tough overseas games.
A BCCI insider told India Today, Players can ask if they want their families to stay longer on tours. The BCCI will decide what to do.
Meanwhile, cricket legend Kapil Dev is all for families joining cricketers on tours but thinks there should be a middle ground on this tricky issue. After India’s 1-3 Test series defeat to Australia, the BCCI put a limit on family visits for tours lasting over 45 days, allowing only 14 days of family time max. For shorter tours, players could bring their families for up to a week.
I don’t really know; it is up to each person. I guess it’s the cricket board’s call, said the 1983 World Cup-winning captain at the ‘Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational’ event.
I think, yes, you need family. You always need a team. During the Champions Trophy, players like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami had their families with them in Dubai but didn’t stay at the team hotel. The players paid for their families’ stay, not the BCCI.
Back in the day, we said – on our own, not the cricket board – that the first part of the trip should be all about cricket, and then, in the second half, our families could come and do fun activities too. It should be a mix.