Former India National Cricket Team player Aakash Chopra talked about the reports of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to not allow players’ families to be with them for tours. He supported the governing body’s decision, saying that it was not wrong.
The India National Cricket Team players have come under the massive scanner after the loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The BCCI recently organized a review meeting related to the performance and came up with some harsh steps.
BCCI wouldn’t allow families of the players on the entire tour
One of the decisions that reportedly took place was that BCCI wouldn’t allow families of the players on the entire tour. It was learned that the families of the India National Cricket Team players will be allowed only for two weeks on the 45-day long day tour.
Following this, BCCI faced a lot of criticism for the decision, with many mocking them, saying that families weren’t the reason why the team lost. A lot of fans and experts have shared their opinions on the same, and the latest to join the bandwagon is Aakash Chopra.
It’s not that people weren’t married earlier – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra talked about the BCCI’s decision and said that the decision isn’t bad and pointed out that this used to happen in the past as well. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:
“The Internet is going crazy as to why families and partners are not being allowed to travel as it’s not their fault. It’s not their fault. Teams never lose because of them. Players are happier when they go and meet their family. However, there are two aspects to it,”
“If it’s a tour of more than 45 days, at the start you get the team together, and the families can come for two weeks in the middle when you feel homesick, and then you get back to business. It’s not that bad. There was a reason why it used to happen like that earlier. It’s not that people weren’t married earlier,”
Sachin paaji (Tendulkar), Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil bhai were allowed to have families on tours for some time – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra further talked about his playing days, saying that married players in Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Anil Kumble were allowed to have families for a short span. He added that players being together develop a different kind of bond. He added:
“Sachin paaji (Tendulkar), Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil bhai (Kumble), when all these married people used to travel with us, the wives were allowed for some time, that was also something nice as your lifestyle was like that. I remember us celebrating New Year in Sydney and the entire team was on the boat. I think Rahul Dravid’s wife was there. We were playing games and you develop a bond.”