Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opened up about the new guidelines set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for centrally contracted players in the country. The guidelines come after India's shock defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While there are many guidelines for players, one of them is to stay in the same hotel to increase team unity. Pathan claimed that even the senior players followed this rule and argued that a player is allowed to sit in a different place. When a user asked Pathan to name Virat Kohli immediately, he flatly denied.
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Irfan Pathan breaks his silence on BCCI's new rules for Team India
Irfan Pathan took to social media to discuss the new rules and regulations brought by the BCCI. He argued how players were allowed to stay at another hotel when the biggest players did not break the rules.
“Even the greatest players of the past stayed in the same hotels as the rest of the Indian team. How was it allowed to stay in a separate hotel in the first place?” asked Irfan Pathan on X (formerly Twitter).
Even the greatest players of the past stayed in the same hotels as the rest of the Indian team. How was staying in a separate hotel allowed in the first place?
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 17, 2025
It should be noted that some of the players stayed at separate hotels with their families during a particular tournament. However, the BCCI wants all the players to stay at the same place from now on.
Irfan Pathan denies taking Virat Kohli's name
A user on X responded to Irfan Pathan's post and asked him to reveal Virat Kohli's name without hesitation. However, Pathan clearly responded by saying that he was not talking about Kohli.
“No, I'm not talking about Virat (Kohli),” Pathan replied.
No, I am not talking about Virat.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 17, 2025
Although not confirmed, some of the team's senior players have been found guilty of staying apart from their families citing their mental well-being. But India's poor performance in Australia prompted the BCCI to take stricter action against them.
BCCI issues new guidelines
The BCCI issued a set of guidelines that came in the wake of a disastrous tour of Australia. The board has made participation in domestic tournaments mandatory for selection.
The guide also includes rules for family travel, baggage allowance and personal staff restrictions. If a player does not follow these rules, strict action will be taken against him, which includes suspension from the cash-rich Indian Premier League.
If a player has an emergency, he will have to take permission from head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. Young players like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have already confirmed their availability for the next Ranji match, but the status of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is still unclear.