Richest cricket board BCCI facing difficulties because of Indian players families

Richest cricket board BCCI facing difficulties because of Indian players families

The Indian cricket team is currently a pretty happy bunch as they are leading the five-match ODI series against New Zealand 3-1. The next match would be played on Sunday at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington and the visitors would be keen to get another victory before they head to play the three-match T20I series. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t had the best of times.

The family members of Indian players accompany their spouses on overseas tours and that has turned out to be a massive headache for the world’s richest cricket board, especially from the logistical point of view. The same issue was in the discussion for the entire 2018, but the board hasn’t been able to find a solution to the logistical aspect and it will extend until the World Cup, starting on May 30.

To be allowed on overseas tour As reported,  BCCI allowed wives to stay with their husbands after 10 days of the tour. The board also tried a ‘family period’, where the families visited the players for a set period of time, which varied from tour to tour.

It is learned that the visit of families does not cost BCCI much because the cricketers are footing the bills of their families, but it is turning out to be a logistical issue for BCCI. “If the team is travelling with less number of members, it is easy to manage. It is easy for the BCCI staff to make the field arrangements. Right from booking ticket to rooms, arrangement handling the entire management is BCCI. A logistical nightmare if this arrangement – of families travelling with the players – to continue in the World Cup for the entire duration, “a BCCI official told  on Thursday.

Taking a cue from the recently concluded Australian tour, BCCI is not happy that some Test players who were not even regulars, travelled with their extended families for two weeks. “It is difficult to manage all of them together. There is also the problem of arranging match tickets for their families. It is to be regulated. This is not a question of money,” the official added.

As far as family members travelling with partners is concerned, the Indian captain, Virat Kohli has mostly been seen with Bollywood actress and wife Anushka Sharma. Both shared pictures on social media, enjoying their time in New Zealand and Australia. Kohli recently ended his stint against the Black Caps and went on a holiday with Anushka in a private jet after the third ODI in Mount Maunganui.