After the Test series defeat against New Zealand at home and the hosts Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unofficially brought some tough rules for the team to maintain focus in the future series. 

The new rules are likely to be imposed from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to host the tournament between February 19 and March 9. India will play all their matches in the UAE, as they will start their tournament journey on February 20 with a match against Bangladesh in Group A. 

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The SOP guidelines are strict and non-negotiable

According to the Cricbuzz report, the BCCI has already handed over the SOPs to all players, where the new guidelines have been added majorly for discipline on travel, nets, luggage allowances, family members, personal staff, etc. 

While all the selected Indian players will travel to Dubai on Saturday (February 15) for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, R. Devraj, the secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), will play the team manager role in the tournament. The manager has been guided to follow the rules strictly on every player. All the rules of the latest SOP are reportedly non-negotiable.

Some of these key reported rules are:

• During overseas tours that run more than 45 days, partners and children (under 18) can join for one visit per series (format-wise) with a maximum of two weeks.
  • As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been scheduled for four weeks, the family members (including spouses) can’t be seen during the tournament. 
• Except for BCCI approval, personal staff (e.g., personal managers, chefs, assistants, security, etc.) are to be restricted on tours or series.
• There are strict rules on travel for the practice and match, including after the completion of the practice and match, as all the team members will have to travel by bus, not by individual vehicles. Travel arrangements with family members during these moments are discouraged, excluding any special approval granted by the head coach and Chairman of the Selection Committee.  
• Also, all the team members must stay the entire period of the scheduled practice sessions.
• During an ongoing series or tour, the players can’t engage in any personal shoot or endorsement.