Senior India player under scanner for violating ‘family clause’ during World Cup 2019

While there was speculation that a rift between India captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit Sharma had marred the team’s reputation in the recent Cricket World Cup, a fresh new controversy has erupted surrounding the team. A senior member of the Indian cricket team has come under the lens for allegedly violating the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) ‘family clause’ rules during the quadrennial event.

India played well in the tournament till the semi-final where they faced a shock defeat to New Zealand and crashed out. The player under question had made a special request to allow his wife to stay along for a period surpassing the permissible one of 15 days. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) that has been appointed by the Supreme Court to run the board, however, did not entertain it.

But the player still went ahead to keep his wife with him for the entire duration of the World Cup without taking either the captain or the coach into confidence. The CoA in its meeting on May 3 discussed the issue but did not allow it, India Today said citing reports that were in possession of relevant documents.

As per minutes of the CoA meeting on May 21, the ‘family clause’ said: “The issue of whether the authority to approve any visits from visitors outside the ‘visitor period’ should vest with the team captain and coach or with the BCCI management was discussed. It was noted that the BCCI management has traditionally decided these matters. It was also noted that the BCCI constitution requires cricketing and non-cricketing matters are to be kept separate.”

BCCI source confirms the development

A BCCI source that has a fair idea about the development conceded on conditions of anonymity that such a violation had indeed taken place. It said the player who was denied permission in the May 3 meeting violated the 15-day rule during the big tournament. The official said the question that arises is whether the player had sought permission about his wife’s extended stay from either the captain or coach and the answer is in the negative.