BCCI Tightens Noose on Gautam Gambhir's Personal Assistant-Travel with the Indian Team Banned

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has reportedly taken a strict decision, barring Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir's personal assistant, Gaurav Arora, from traveling with the national team. This move comes after rising concerns over his access to restricted areas during the recent tours.

According to reports, Gaurav Arora had been granted access to various locations that were meant solely for team officials, players, and selectors. Allegedly, he was seen in a car that was designated specifically for national selectors and also managed to access the BCCI’s hospitality box in Adelaide. Furthermore, he was reportedly seen at the breakfast area, which is typically reserved for players and their support staff.

This caused a furore in the Indian camp, with some players being upset at his presence in these restricted areas. The BCCI was said to have taken action in the matter after receiving complaints. According to sources, the board intervened and imposed a ban on Gambhir's PA. The ban included not staying in the same hotel as the team, using the team's bus, or accessing VIP boxes in stadiums. It also means Gaurav Arora will not be allowed to travel with the team during tours.

CricBlogger further revealed that there had been a discussion within the BCCI that Arora should be allowed to travel with Gambhir for all Indian matches. However, opposition from other office bearers made the plans end there. The head coach, Gautam Gambhir, visibly looked frustrated at the board's decision.

This is not the first time that the BCCI has restricted personal staff from traveling with the team. Recently, the governing board had issued travel rules to control the number of family members and personal staff present with players during the tour. These rules strictly restricted the family members staying for a certain number of days and did not allow players to make individual travel arrangements during practice sessions or matches. These rules were issued in an attempt to maintain discipline in the team without any distraction during the tour.

The BCCI had expressed its displeasure earlier over Arora’s presence in restricted areas during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour in Australia. A source within the board was quoted saying, “Why was his PA sitting in the car specified for national selectors? They can’t even discuss things in private with an unknown third person in the car. Why was he allotted space in the BCCI’s hospitality box in Adelaide? How did he break his fast in the cordoned-off area of a five-star facility that is only earmarked for the members of the team?

" Being present in spaces meant for formal members of the team, who are supposed to be official invitees, certainly raised questions regarding privacy and security. This points to increasing concerns about how personal staff and family members are allowed to be absorbed into the arrangements of the travelling team. The new guidelines of the BCCI reflect an attempt to streamline the operations of the team, making sure that only necessary personnel are present in specific spaces during tours.

The decision to bar Arora from traveling with the team may have caused tension within the Indian camp, but it also reminds one of the strict protocols that governing bodies like the BCCI enforce to maintain order during international cricket tours.

Since his appointment, Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach has been keenly watched. His management of the team has been both lauded and criticized. The latest incident, however, marks the challenges Gambhir faces in balancing his personal and professional responsibilities, especially in including close aides such as his personal assistant. With the BCCI enforcing strict prohibition on free access and even clamping down on loose rules regarding personal staff movement, one waits with bated breath to see how this comes into play while Gambhir went about on subsequent tours. In its preparation for more international tours, this makes the importance of these rules very evident.