New Delhi:
In the wake of India’s 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a 10-point policy aimed at enhancing “discipline and unity” within the team. However, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has expressed skepticism about the timing and content of these new guidelines.
Speaking on the recent measures, Harbhajan Singh pointed out that most of the points in the BCCI’s policy are not new and have been in place since his playing days. “When I read the travel policy document, I hardly found anything new from the last time I represented India as a centrally-contracted cricketer,” he stated. Harbhajan questioned the alterations to these rules and who might have made them, suggesting that this should be investigated.
The policy includes making domestic cricket mandatory, restricting family visits and personal staff on tours, and banning individual commercial endorsements during series. Harbhajan argued that these measures divert attention from the team’s poor on-field performance against New Zealand and Australia. “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,” he emphasized.
Harbhajan also criticized the involvement of head coach Gautam Gambhir in administrative matters. “His job is on the field and in the technical aspects where we are lacking. The administrative part should be left with competent people in the BCCI,” he said. He suggested that Gambhir’s role should focus on coaching and addressing the team’s technical flaws rather than handling administrative tasks.
Additionally, Harbhajan supported the idea of having team chefs to cater to the dietary needs of the players, similar to practices in the soccer World Cup. “BCCI has deep pockets. Why do you need to carry personal chefs? Have a couple of team chefs. It is not a big deal,” he added.
The introduction of these guidelines has sparked a debate about whether they address the core issues affecting the team’s performance. Harbhajan’s comments highlight the need for a more focused approach to improving the team’s cricketing skills rather than just enforcing off-field rules.
