Senior Indian Cricketer stays with wife throughout 2019 Cricket World Cup; violates BCCI’s ‘family clause’ in the process

Senior Indian Cricketer stays with wife throughout 2019 Cricket World Cup; thereby violates BCCI’s family clause in the process

A senior Indian team cricketer has reportedly come under the BCCI scanner for having allegedly violated its ‘family clause’ rules during the recently concluded 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

As per the sources and reports, the player under question had made a special request to allow his wife to stay along for a period surpassing the permissible one of 15 days. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) that has been appointed by the Supreme Court to run the board, however, was not amused whatsoever.

The player didn’t seek approval from either the captain or coach

The report, quoting sources in BCCI, said that the player did not seek permission from either the captain or the coach for the extended stay of his wife.

According to PTI, the player in question had specifically requested for his wife to stay with him for more than the permissible period of 15 days but it was shot down by the Committee of Administrators (CoA). However, it has now come to light that the player’s wife stayed with him for the entire  duration of the tournament.

As per documents in possession of PTI, the CoA in its meeting on May 3 discussed the issue but eventually shot down the request.

The Item 6 sub clause G of the minutes of the CoA meeting read: Request from a player

1. The COA discussed that one of the players from the Men’s Senior Team had made a request for permission for his wife to accompany him to the World Cup tour earlier than is otherwise permissible.

2. The CoA was informed that the matter is being discussed with the concerned player and that it may not be advisable to grant the request.

3. After some discussion, the CoA decided that it will not accede to the above request from the concerned player.

What does BCCI’s ‘family clause’ state?

As per minutes of CoA meeting on May 21 (Sec 1 (B) (1) ), the Family Clause stated: “The issue of whether the authority to approve any visits from visitors outside the ‘visitor period’ should vest with the team captain and coach or with the BCCI management was discussed. It was noted that the BCCI management has traditionally decided these matters. It was also noted that the BCCI constitution requires cricketing and non-cricketing matters are to be kept separate.”

A BCCI source privy to the development confirmed to PTI, on conditions of anonymity, that such a violation indeed happened.

“Yes, the same player in question, who was categorically denied permission during May 3 meeting, violated the 15-day rule during the World Cup. The question that arises here is whether the player in question had sought permission about the extra duration of stay of his wife from the competent authorities — in this case the coach and the captain. The answer is a ‘No’,” the official said.