'What have the wives done?': Harbhajan Singh questions BCCI's revised guidelines for Team India players

The BCCI has implemented a strict 10-point regulation aimed at maintaining professional standards and improving operational efficiency during team tours and series in response to India's recent losses to Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Reducing the amount of time players can spend with their spouses, partners, and family members and requiring them to travel only with the team are two significant regulation changes.

Following the most recent series' 3-1 loss to Australia, many people expected the BCCI to take decisive action. Harbhajan Singh, a former spin hero, has noted that improving the team's on-field performance should take precedence over implementing stringent off-field rules.

"You lost a series in Australia. It's okay. If you don't lose, how can you enjoy when you win. You lost to New Zealand. That's also fine. Two teams are playing. One will win, one will lose. Before that you lost to Sri Lanka. People are saying, there are no discussions on the losses. After winning the T20 World Cup, you have lost so many series. Rather than sorting things out, if it is getting worse, then the focus has gone haywire," Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel.

"Somebody is saying don't let wives come on tours. What have the wives done? When performance is not good you say, don't allow wives and children. Have we lost because of them? We win or lose because of what we do on the field. I think we should be focusing on our cricket. Team is in transition and it will take time."

Harbhajan also commented on a report indicating that the Indian cricket team has not been traveling together on tours lately.

"Who allowed this? Their dress is the same, travel and training time is same. If you are part of the Indian team, you should do these things together. I have never known any side doing this. It's not County cricket," he said.

Singh and his former colleague Irfan Pathan think that the timing of these rules takes attention away from the urgent need to address issues on the pitch. He makes the case that these actions are not the primary cause of recent failures, highlighting the importance of focussing on cricket's foundations.

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