BCCI-Enforces-

Champions Trophy 2025: BCCI Bans Family, Personal Staff, and Private Travel for Indian Cricketers

 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced strict regulations for the Champions Trophy 2025, setting clear guidelines on player travel, practice sessions, and the presence of family members.
 
The upcoming tournament, which is the biggest ODI event of the year, marks a crucial opportunity for India to redeem itself after its 3-1 series loss to Australia.

 

BCCI’s New Travel Policy for Players

 

The Champions Trophy 2025 will be the first major tournament to follow the new BCCI updated guidelines on travelling, net sessions and luggage allowances among other things for players. The BCCI has made it clear that these guidelines are non-negotiable and players were officially informed of these guidelines on December 24, during the third ODI against England in Ahmedabad, as reported by Cricbuzz.

 

A source quoted in the report stated:

 

There is no going back on this, and the players have been made aware that the BCCI is very serious about the SOPs.

 

One of the key rules outlined in the policy states:

 

"All players are required to stay for the entire duration of scheduled practice sessions and travel together to and from the venue.
 
This rule ensures commitment and fosters a strong work ethic within the team."

Any violation of these rules could lead to serious consequences, as per the BCCI's directive.

 

Senior Player's Request for Wife's Company Denied

 

A senior Indian cricketer reportedly enquired about the possibility of his wife accompanying him during the Champions Trophy tour. However, he was informed that the BCCI policy would be strictly followed, as per a PTI report.

 

A senior BCCI official clarified the board’s stance:

 

“If anything changes, then it is different, but as of now, the players are unlikely to be accompanied by their wives or partners for this tour. One of the senior players had enquired about it, and he was told that the policy decision would be followed.”

As the tournament is less than one month, the BCCI will not allow players to be accompanied by family members. However, in some circumstances, it may be possible and in such an event, all costs will be met out of players’ pockets since the BCCI will not provide any assistance.

 

Enforcement of Team Travel and Domestic Cricket Participation

 

The BCCI has also tightened measures in the travelling policies of players, ensuring they travel together to venues and practice sessions. Private cars are no longer allowed for practice and all state units have been notified of such changes.

The board has also applied the same rules to international players who play domestic games when available. Currently, several Indian top players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja, have featured in domestic matches for their state teams as expected by BCCI.

 

Restrictions on Personal Staff

 

Apart from family members, the BCCI has also barred personal staff such as managers, agents and chefs, who previously accompanied players and coaching staff.

 

A senior official confirmed:

 

If you look at it, already no player can ask for a private vehicle to come for practice. All state units have been notified. Similarly, once the players assembled in Kolkata (for the T20I series against England) and Nagpur (for the ODI series against the same side), the team has travelled together.

One notable instance of the implementation of this rule is, that the personal secretary of a coaching staff member that used to be allowed to stay at team hotels will now stay at a different facility.

Moreover, the BCCI is planning to consider the option of having special chefs onboard to cater to the special dietary needs of some of the players.

 

Conclusion

 

The new guidelines of BCCI aim to make discipline and unity greater within the Indian cricket team ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. The policies also ensure remaining committed to a high-performance culture, while the travel, family and personal staff rules are more strict. These changes are essentially aimed at ensuring that India is better prepared for this mega event, while a focused and professional approach is taken up.