The BCCI issued a new team protocol following the series defeats against New Zealand and Australia. NZ whitewashed India 3-0 while Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the five-match Test series 3-1. The board conducted a review meeting after the Australia tour and came up with a new team protocol few days later.

The board has restricted family time for players on long tours and made it mandatory for them to participate in domestic cricket. The players have also been asked to travel together in a team bus.

Harbhajan Singh reacted to the BCCI's diktat and sent a blunt message to the board. Speaking to PTI, the India legend said that the main issue was getting ignored and that Team India didn't lose because of family members of the players.

"Hum log mudde se bhatak rahein hain (We are deviating from the main issue). We didn't lose 1-3 because wives and partners were there for two months. We didn't lose because someone travelled separately," Harbhajan told PTI.

"We lost because we have played very poor cricket at times. We didn't bat well even at home. We have players who are horribly out of form. What are the course corrections being made? Or is it just these off-the-field things being discussed?"

As per the BCCI's diktat, the families can stay with the players for 2 weeks on long tours. Also, the board asked players to stay with the team even if a match or series ends early.

Reacting to this, Harbhajan revealed that legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and others never left the team early.

"I think some of the points needed to be revisited because they were being flouted. Like in our times, I never saw a Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble leave for Mumbai, Kolkata or Bengaluru just because the match has ended in three days and next game is a week away. They all stayed and travelled to next destination. Only change I see (in the new rulebook) is 150 kg suitcase allowance. Back in the day, we used to have lesser," he said.

India will make their on-field return in the T20I series against England, starting January 22. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will return to action in the ODI series. The three ODIs will be played on February 6, 9 and 12.

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