A positive team culture rests on respect, equality

CCI's "guidelines" on player conduct during tours is not a polite suggestion but a sharp warning. In one bold stroke, it has downsized the inflated egos of top stars.

- Amrit Mathur

The tough stand was needed because in a team sport, individuals have to be equal and the group must play by certain ground rules. More so during overseas tours when players are together for an extended period and the last thing you want is class distinctions to emerge that disrupt harmony.

On tours, players' conduct becomes more important because they represent the BCCI, also India. They are India's sporting ambassadors—no wonder the Aussie PM invited them to his official residence for a reception.

Protocols governing player behaviour and team conduct are not new; informal guidelines have always been in place. Mostly they are, in true Indian tradition, unwritten and verbal but "team culture" is subtly handed down from seniors to juniors. There is a "to do" list, and another that identifies acts that raise red flags.

During my first tour as manager of Team India in 1992, I realised the manager had his hands full with administrative duties. He had to sort out travel/hotel/transport/food/finances/conduct team meetings, organise practice and deal with the media. I even helped out with fielding drills because the touring group was just 17; nowadays the large support staff army handles most of these functions.

Fortunately, the team itself was largely self-regulated—it functioned according to its code and "discipline" rules which could not be compromised.