A dramatic report has come out of India’s tour of Australia, showing how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was forced to bring in new luggage policies after some players allegedly took advantage of the board’s flexibility. Under the new guidelines, the BCCI will pay for only up to 150 kg of luggage per player on overseas tours.
Dainik Jagran said one player had 27 bags of BCCI and paid for it, weighing over 250 kg. The bags were not only for the player but also his family members and personal staff. The bags had 17 bats and other personal belongings, which, according to the policy of the BCCI, should be dealt with individually.
The report adds that the player’s family tagged along with him during the tour, with the BCCI footing the bill for sending their luggage from India to Australia and city to city throughout the series. The amount spent by the BCCI is not quantified but is estimated in lakhs.
This incident, it is said, led other team members to do the same, prompting the BCCI to roll out stricter regulations. Since the Australia tour, the players have to travel by the team bus, and no private travel arrangements are permitted. Also, the ` has informed that family members of the players are not eligible to join them on the next ICC Champions Trophy tour to Dubai, with no exception being granted, as per a senior player’s request to take his wife along.
