Former Australia captain Michael Clarke expressed his confusion over the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) new guideline limiting family stays during tours. He struggled to understand the rationale behind the policy and believes it might not be a sustainable long-term solution, especially with the amount of travel that modern cricket demands.
The BCCI has implemented a rule that restricts families from traveling with players for more than 14 days if the tour lasts for 45 days. This policy came after Team India’s heavy 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. During the recent tour to Australia, several Indian players had their families accompanying them for the entire duration. Clarke acknowledged that this is a “gray area,” but he feels that the balance of the team might be disrupted without their presence.
Clarke reflected on the challenges of balancing team policies regarding players’ families and partners during tours, explaining how the rules varied throughout his career. “At times, players’ families were allowed, then not allowed, and sometimes allowed for the entire duration. The balance was tricky. You had older players with families, and younger single players. How do you manage that?” he shared on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.
He questioned the fairness of the rules, asking, “If partners aren’t allowed to stay for the whole tour, should the single guys be allowed to bring someone to the hotel bar? Where do you draw the line?” Clarke acknowledged that being away from home can be more challenging for some, making it a sensitive issue.
Clarke praised the BCCI for making domestic cricket mandatory, noting it mirrors Australia’s approach. Players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith played in the Sheffield Shield to stay match-fit before the Border-Gavaskar series.
He also pointed out the cultural differences between India and Australia, noting, “India’s approach is quite different from Australia’s. In our team, certain aspects are simply understood, like returning to play domestic cricket. Our system, with players returning to Sheffield Shield or the BBL, has always been strong.”
Clarke concluded by expressing confusion over some points, saying, “I don’t understand why certain issues are even being discussed, let alone written down.”