Harbhajan Singh said BCCI’s 10-point guidelines for the players hardly addressed the main issue of non-performance. (PTI)
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday said that the BCCI’s recently issued 10-point policy for the centrally-contracted players existed even during his playing days but was puzzled to find it “altered” over th eyears.
Following on the heels of their ignominious Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat, the BCCI conducted a review meeting that was attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma, and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. Among the guidelines after the meeting, accessed by The Indian Express, participation in domestic tournaments is mandatory for selection and tops the list followed by rules for family travel, baggage allowance, and restrictions on personal staff, ad shoots and a ban on players returning home if matches end early.
To underline the severity of these guidelines, the BCCI has stated that any player who doesn’t comply with it may face disciplinary action which includes sanctions from playing tournaments conducted by the board including the Indian Premier League and deduction in annual contract and match fee.
“When I was reading the travel policy document reported by the media, I hardly found anything new from the last time I represented India as a centrally-contracted cricketer,” Harbhajan told PTI during an interaction.
“At least nine out of 10 points, including duration of family visits, staying in same hotel, practice timings, all are same. My question is if these rules were in place during my time, who all have altered it and when? That should be probed,” Harbhajan said.
Harbhajan insisted that the document was deviating from the main point of India’s poor on-field performances.
“Hum log mudde se bhatak rahein hain (We are deviating from the main issue). We didn’t lose 1-3 because wives and partners were there for two months. We didn’t lose because someone travelled separately.We lost because we have played very poor cricket at times. We didn’t bat well even at home. We have players who are horribly out of form. What are the course corrections being made? Or is it just these off-the-field things being discussed?” he questioned.
Recollecting his playing days, Harbhajan said: “I think some of the points needed to be revisited because they were being flouted. Like in our times, I never saw a Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble leave for Mumbai, Kolkata or Bengaluru just because the match has ended in three days and next game is a week away. They all stayed and travelled to next destination.”
“Only change I see (in the new rulebook) is 150 kg suitcase allowance. Back in the day, we used to have lesser,” remarked Harbhajan.
I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
