No wives and girlfriends to accompany Team India during WC: Reports

Mumbai, Jan 18: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to announce that no wives and girlfriends of members of the Indian team will be present with their partners in Australia and New Zealand during the ICC World Cup starting February 14, said reports. []

The cricket board had taken a soft stand on the issue after India lost the first two tests in the recently concluded series against Australia. Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav besides captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hosted their wives through the Christmas and New Year when India played the last two tests. [Indian squad announced for WC 2015]

Virat Kohli, who captained India in two test matches during the series, was also seen hosting her actor girlfriend during the series. [Tri-series: Things heat up at MCG as Warner targets Rohit]

In fact, Kohli's public display of affection towards his partner after each of the mega innings during the series became one of the biggest non-cricketing talking point during the series Down Under that India lost.

But the BCCI has decided to turn the rules around when it comes to the Indian team's mission of defending the title they won in 2011, in Australia and New Zealand.

The Indian cricket board generally allows partners to accompany the players during high-pressure international series but this time it has thought otherwise, given the significance of cricket's most coveted trophy.

In 2011, restrictions were imposed on Indian cricketers on speaking to the media. It was mostly the captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the then coach Gary Kirsten who handled the pre-match press meets. However, though the board has imposed a restriction on wives and girlfriends, reports also said that a small window has been kept whereby only wives will be allowed to meet the players and not girlfriends.

Oneindia News