Agarkar said that some of the BCCI guidelines have already been in place adding in a team sport following rules were important. (AP)Days after the BCCI issued strict guidelines that put restrictions on family travel, personal staff on tour, baggage allowance and prohibited cricketers from heading home if a match finishes early, chief selector Ajit Agarkar attempted to allay fears of it being an autocratic move by saying ‘it’s not a school’ and ‘it’s not a punishment’. At the same time Agarkar said that some of the guidelines have already been in place adding in a team sport following rules were important.
“I suppose every team has some rules in place. We’ve spoken about various things over the last few months, where you can improve as a team, where you can get a bit closer as a team. It’s not a school. It’s not a punishment,” Agarkar said during a press conference at which the ODI team for the England series and the Champions Trophy was announced.
The chief selector also said that guidelines could be refined in a team which comprised mature superstars.
“It’s just (that) you have some rules in place and when you’re playing for the national team you just follow those rules. Again, these are mature individuals. They are superstars in their own right in international sport. But at the end of the day, you’re eventually representing your country. There are certain things that you just inherently follow as every team does. I think a lot of them have been in place. You keep on refining it as you go along… eventually what suits the team, you want to try and do,” Agarkar added.
Post India’s debacle in the Border Gavaskar Trophy where India lost to Australia 1-3, the BCCI has brought in new guidelines. It reiterated that domestic cricket participation was mandatory when not on international duty and also banned endorsement shoots during a tour. A player who doesn’t comply can face sanctions, including being barred from playing in the Indian Premier League and deduction in annual contract retainer fees as well as match fees. Exceptions, if any, must be pre-approved by the head coach and chief selector, the policy document for Team India stated. 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 stylists on tours.
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