'Is single guy allowed to bring someone to hotel bar?': Michael Clarke exposes grey area in BCCI's guidelines
Table of Contents
Former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke does not agree with the latest guidelines being brought up by the BCCI for Team India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India recently announced some guidelines for the team in which they decided to limit the presence of family members.
The guidelines were brought up in the aftermath of a shocking defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India lost the Test series 1-3 and also failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
Also read: Huge security breach near Indian dressing room at Eden Gardens before 1st T20I vs England
Michael Clarke highlights a grey area in BCCI's new guidelines
While speaking on ESPN's Around the Wicket segment, Michael Clarke raised concerns over BCCI's decision to limit families' presence during tours. He believes that finding the balance with families on tours is difficult since some players have wives and children.
"The one I found hard, because throughout my career, we went both sides with players, wives, and partners only being allowed sometimes, not being allowed on other times, then being allowed the whole time," Clarke said.
"The balance was difficult. You got guys who were older, who were married with kids, you got guys that are single," the former Australia captain added.
Michael Clarke further questioned if a single player is allowed to bring someone to the hotel bar and have a drink. He argued that there is no balance in this guideline and raised questions about it.
"So, from the perspective of the team, if the partners are not allowed to come the whole time, is the single guy allowed to bring someone back to the hotel bar and have a drink with her? Where's the balance?" he argued.
"I don't know how it is going to work. I just think it is a really touchy one because some people find it more difficult being away from home," Clarke noted.
"India's culture is very different to Australia's" - Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke also spoke about BCCI's new guideline in which the board made it compulsory for every player to play domestic cricket whenever they are available. Clarke was surprised to see that rule as he feels it is a no-brainer in Australian cricket.
"It shows India's culture is very different to Australia's. Because a lot of those things in the Australian team are a no-brainer, are a given as part of being in that international setup," Clarke observed.
"The first-class cricket one, for example, to me, I think is great. Our domestic system has been strong, and it's because players go back generally when they can, and play Sheffield Shield Cricket, BBL, One-Day, whatever it is," he noted.
India's star cricketers in Ranji Trophy
The BCCI introduced a ten-point guideline for the centrally contracted players. One of those guidelines was to make domestic cricket compulsory for every international player whenever he is available.
Going by this guideline, a no. of star cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Virat Kohli have confirmed their availability for the second phase of the Ranji Trophy.
Tagged:
India National Cricket Team Michael Clarke BCCI The Board of Control for Cricket in India Australia National Cricket Team IND vs AUS India vs Australia ICC World Test Championship India tour of Australia