In a major development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has granted permission for Indian cricketers, including stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to have their families accompany them during the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. This decision comes as a relief to the players, especially after the board had previously imposed a 10-point set of guidelines following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which restricted family involvement during tours.
While the BCCI has agreed to allow family members to travel with the players, there is a significant condition: players can only have their families accompany them for one match during the tournament. The players are required to discuss among themselves and submit a collective request to the BCCI, which will then arrange the logistics.
Previously, the BCCI had approved only a limited two-week window for families to join players on long overseas tours exceeding 45 days. For shorter events like the Champions Trophy, family accompaniment was not permitted. However, considering the nature of the tournament, the board has made an exception, allowing one game for family visits. It remains undisclosed which match the players have chosen for this allowance.
The BCCI emphasized that the new policy aims to maintain professional standards and operational efficiency during international tours and series, ensuring a balance between player welfare and team performance.
