It's tough managing logistics of cricketers traveling with families: BCCI
Last year, the BCCI allowed the wives and girlfriends of Indian cricketers to travel along them, after the first 10 days of a tour. However, now that the rule is in action, the board is finding it hard to manage the logistics of such a large contingent together. The arrangement of match tickets for such a large number of people has also become problematic.
It might be problematic if this continues during World Cup
As per a report in the Times of India, a BCCI official said it might be problematic if such a large contingent travels together during the 2019 World Cup. The problem is not the cost, since the cricketers themselves are bearing most of it. However, the logistics is an issue, as the BCCI had a hard time managing extended families during tour of Australia.
What happened in Australia and why?
Some players opted to travel with their extended families during the tour. The BCCI was miffed that some of these players were not even regulars in the starting XI. "It is difficult to manage all of them together. There is also the problem of arranging match tickets for their families. It has to be regulated. This is not a question of money", he added.
Virat Kohli had first suggested the change in rules
Kohli had earlier urged the BCCI to let wives and girlfriends of Indian cricketers to stay for the complete duration of a tour. A BCCI official had then put forward his request to the SC-appointed Committee of Administrators. Earlier, the cricketers' partners were allowed for only two weeks on tours, but Kohli had convinced the board to relax the rules.
Cricketers have already made some requests for the World Cup
The members of the Indian cricket team have asked the BCCI to allow wives and girlfriends for the entirety of the 2019 World Cup. They have also requested that they should be allowed to travel by train between cities, so that their partners can accompany them. Amusingly, the players also want a steady supply of bananas, apparently their favorite fruit, during the World Cup.
