Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh opens up on Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) 10-point guidelines after Rohit Sharma-led side lost 1-3 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. India's World Cup winner Harbhajan mentioned that these policies, although branded as new, have been in place since his playing days.
After India's dismal outing in five Test match series against Australia, BCCI introduced new guidelines for players to encourage discipline. The talking points in the guidelines include mandatory domestic cricket participation, restrictions on family travel, personal staff, commercial endorsements during a series, and baggage allowances. This came in after BCCI's SGM meeting, which was attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, skipper Rohit Sharma, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and other board members.
Harbhajan said that India didn't lose because wives and partners were there for two months or because someone travelled separately.
“When I was reading the travel policy document reported by the media, I hardly found anything new from the last time I represented India as a centrally-contracted cricketer. At least nine out of 10 points, including duration of family visits, staying in same hotel, practice timings, all are same. My question is if these rules were in place during my time, who all have altered it and when? That should be probed,” Harbhajan said as quoted by the Indian Express.
Harbhajan believes that India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 because the team played poor cricket and the players were 'horribly out of form'.
"We are deviating from the main issue). We didn’t lose 1-3 because wives and partners were there for two months. We didn’t lose because someone travelled separately.We lost because we have played very poor cricket at times. We didn’t bat well even at home. We have players who are horribly out of form. What are the course corrections being made? Or is it just these off-the-field things being discussed?” he added.
Harbhajan also shed light on baggage allowance, he revealed that during his playing days the baggage allowance was less than 150 kg.
"I think some of the points needed to be revisited because they were being flouted. Like in our times, I never saw a Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble leave for Mumbai, Kolkata or Bengaluru just because the match has ended in three days and next game is a week away. They all stayed and travelled to next destination. Only change I see (in the new rulebook) is 150 kg suitcase allowance. Back in the day, we used to have lesser,” Harbhajan concluded.
Team India are currently preparing for the upcoming white ball series against England which will be last assignment before the Champions Trophy 2025. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to start from February 19.