- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Limited time with family members on tours was a contentious clause in the BCCI’s recently-circulated 10-point disciplinary policy for players
By: India Weekly
AS INDIAN players gear up for reduced time with families during lengthy tours abroad owing to a BCCI diktat, England captain Jos Buttler on Tuesday (21) said having partners and children on long overseas assignments is “really important” and does not affect the game “too much”.
Limited time with family members on tours was a contentious clause in the BCCI’s recently-circulated 10-point disciplinary policy for players.
India’s Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma has already voiced his apprehension with the clause that allows families no more than two weeks on tours exceeding 45 days.
“…that’s a loaded question, isn’t it?” Buttler said on the eve of the five-match series against the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20 side, seemingly well aware of the current turmoil here following a disastrous Test tour of Australia.
“I think it’s important. We live in a day and age now, which is a very modern world, and I think it’s great to be able to have families on the tour with you and try and enjoy that,” he added.
“There’s a lot of cricket, people spend a long time away from home, and I think post-Covid all that’s been highlighted as well. Absolutely, I don’t think it affects the cricket too much.”
Buttler also asserted that the presence of families does not interfere with professional commitments and can be managed effectively.
“I think it’s something that is very manageable. Personally, from my point of view, I think it’s really important to try and be able to share that with your family and lighten the load on being away from home,” he explained.
The BCCI has stated that any relaxation on the family time rule would require prior approval from head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Shami’s comeback
Fit-again pacer Mohammed Shami’s comeback will be keenly watched as India’s T20 team takes on England in a five-match series starting in Kolkata on Wednesday (22), aiming to make up for the recent Test disasters.
The white-ball rubber, comprising five T20Is and three ODIs after that, presents an ideal platform for both teams to experiment with combinations and assess form before next month’s Champions Trophy.
Shami, despite missing four matches, emerged as India’s leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023 with 24 scalps, including a sensational 7/57 in the semifinal against New Zealand at the Wankhede.
Shami was sidelined after the lost final against Australia on November 19, 2023 due to an ankle injury that required surgery.
The recovery from that was followed by swelling on his left knee during the domestic comeback some weeks back.
Bazball
Credited with introducing the ultra-aggressive ‘Bazball’ brand of batting, England coach Brendon McCullum on Monday (20) sprang a surprise by promising to “play very watchful style of cricket” in the limited overs series against India.
The upcoming assignment against India will be McCullum’s first in white-ball cricket, having coached the Test team with plenty of success since May 2022.
“I know it’s going to be a tough tour, taking on a very good Indian side, but I’m sure we’ll play what I hope is a very watchful style of cricket,” McCullum told reporters in Kolkata.
The ODI series is seen as a dress rehearsal for both teams ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which will be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19.
“We’ll use the next few weeks to try and hit the ground running, I’m sure there will be some times where we don’t quite get it right,” he said.
“But, hopefully, we will chisel away at that over the next few weeks, and we’ll be in good shape come that Champions Trophy.”
The 43-year-old was appointed England’s white-ball coach in September, succeeding Matthew Mott, and he will now juggle between his role as Test coach while guiding the limited-overs side. (PTI)
