The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector opens up on the new guidelines for team India before the Champions Trophy 2025. The new guidelines by the cricket board include mandatory domestic cricket participation, restrictions on family travel, personal staff, commercial endorsements during a series, and baggage allowances.
While addressing the media during India's Champions Trophy 2025 announcement in Mumbai, Ajit Agarkar came forward and expressed the necessity of the rules, and how the changes were needed.
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"I think every team has some rules in place. We have spoken about various things. We have seen in the last few months the need for some changes, more bonding in the team. It's not a school, it's not a punishment. We have some rules and when you are playing for the national team, you following the rules,” Agarkar said in a press conference.
"These are not school kids. These are superstars. They know how to handle themselves. But, at the end of the day, you play for your country. So you need to follow some rules. There were a lot of rules that were in place. You keep on refining it,” he added.
"I don't think it's a diktat, it is one of the things BCCI has put forward," he added.
BCCI announced the new rules after India's dismal outing in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Rohit Sharma-led side lost 1-3 against Australia in the five-Test match series. The new policies will be implemented from India's next international assignment which will be the upcoming white-ball home series against England from January 22.
After finishing the white ball series team India will travel to Dubai for the Champions Trophy which will start from February 19 and the Rohit Sharma-led side will start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20.
India's Champions Trophy 2025 squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja