The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that it will not be altering its existing guidelines regarding family members accompanying players on overseas tours.
This statement comes after Indian cricketer Virat Kohli expressed dissatisfaction with the restrictions imposed by the board’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Speaking at a Royal Challengers Bengaluru event ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kohli stated that every player would prefer to have their family with them during international tours.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, saying that returning to an empty hotel room after a match can be mentally taxing. Kohli made these remarks in response to a question about the BCCI’s policies, which were tightened following India’s 3-1 Test series defeat in Australia.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the issue, stating that the board’s policies would remain unchanged in the near future. He stressed that these guidelines apply uniformly to all team members, including players, coaches, managers, and support staff.
While acknowledging that some players may not fully agree with the restrictions, Saikia reiterated that the policies were formulated with the team's best interests in mind.
The current BCCI SOPs permit players who are away from India for more than 45 days to have their spouse and children (under 18) visit them once per series, with the visit lasting a maximum of two weeks.
The BCCI covers shared accommodation during this period, but all other expenses must be borne by the player. The timing of these visits must be pre-approved by the coach, captain, and GM Operations.
Any exceptions require prior approval, and additional costs incurred outside the designated period will not be covered by the BCCI.
Saikia also pointed out that these policies were not introduced recently but have been in place for decades, dating back to the era of current BCCI president Roger Binny’s playing days.
While acknowledging the evolving nature of the sport and players’ expectations, he stated that any future modifications would only be made after thorough deliberation.
Notably, despite Kohli’s concerns, family members of Indian cricketers were seen at stadiums on multiple occasions during the Champions Trophy. This suggests that, in special circumstances, exceptions are already being made.
Saikia affirmed that while the BCCI has expanded the duration of family visits in recent years, any further relaxations would be granted only through a proper review process.
India’s next overseas tour will be a five-match Test series in England, scheduled from June to July after the IPL.
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