BCCI Turns Down Team Management’s Request to Allow Players’ Families at T20 World Cup 2026: Report
Players free to arrange private stays for families as board maintains long-standing tour guidelines
India, Feb 10 : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declined a request from the Indian team management to permit players’ families to stay with them during the T20 World Cup 2026, reaffirming its existing travel policy.
Under current guidelines, families are allowed to accompany players for up to 14 days only on overseas tours lasting 45 days or longer. Since India is hosting most of the tournament, the board has decided not to make exceptions.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the BCCI clarified that while families cannot stay with the squad, players are free to organise separate accommodation if they wish. The team will travel abroad only once during the group stage for a high-profile clash against Pakistan in Sri Lanka.
“The team management had asked whether wives and fiancées could travel and stay with the players. The board has made it clear that families won’t be accommodated with the squad, though private arrangements are permitted,” a BCCI source told the publication.
A similar restriction was enforced earlier this year during India’s limited-overs series against New Zealand at home. Players have reportedly made alternative personal arrangements during the World Cup as well, including hiring private chefs stationed at nearby hotels to meet dietary preferences.
The revised approach to family travel was introduced after India’s 3-1 defeat in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Previously, extended family stays had become common practice in the post-pandemic period.
India’s campaign underway
India opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a victory over the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the side will next face Namibia in Delhi on February 12 before travelling to Colombo for the marquee encounter against Pakistan. Their final group-stage fixture is scheduled against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.
