 "Indian players celebrate after picking up an Australian wicket during 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Image: PTI")
In a move to keep a check on excessive luggage costs, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced new baggage restrictions for players and support staff on international tours. This decision reportedly comes in the wake of a shocking revelation that a star Indian cricketer, along with his family and personal staff, carried 27 bags to Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), resulting in the board shelling out lakhs in excess baggage fees.
The 27-bag controversy
According to a report in Dainik Jagran, the BCCI has now set a strict limit of 150 kg per player, covering both personal and cricketing gear. Any additional luggage beyond this limit will have to be endured by the players themselves. Furthermore, the board has imposed new guidelines regarding family members traveling with players during tours . Under the revised rules, family members can accompany players for a maximum of two weeks on tours that last 45 days or more.
The decision comes after a shocking incident during India’s recent tour of Australia, where a certain player reportedly traveled with over 27 bags. The bags, which belonged to the cricketer, his family members, and personal staff, consisted a total of 17 bats and weighed more than 250 kg. The BCCI not only had to pay for the excess baggage while traveling from India to Australia and vice-versa but also covered additional costs as the team moved across different cities during the one-and-a-half-month-long tour.
The report suggests that the board was made to spend a hefty sum on airline fees due to this excessive baggage, which forced them to reevaluate the policies. The new restrictions aim to prevent such instances in the future.
The BCCI’s latest guidelines also made it compulsory for players to participate in domestic cricket when not involved with the national team. This imposition of this policy saw several senior Indian players taking part in the final group-stage round of the Ranji Trophy last month. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal joined the Mumbai team, while Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant played for Delhi. Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj are the other Indian players who took part in domestic cricket recently.