BCCI upset with Team India players after image with ‘beer pint in hand’ goes viral

The picture that has been doing rounds on social media features opener KL Rahul with a beer pint in his hand. He is accompanied by all-rounder Stuart Binny, pacer Umesh Yadav and a support staff member in the image.

Team India has been in the Caribbean for close to 10 days now. The place is known for its beaches and colourful cricketers, who play hard and party harder. Drinks, parties et al are an essential part of their lives. There is also a saying ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’. Perhaps young players of Team India took this saying a bit too seriously; something which has landed them in serious trouble. ALSO SEE: Team India gets going in the Caribbean with Yoga and beach volleyball

A report on the website Circle of Cricket says that the BCCI top-brass is apparently not happy with some of the younger players after their images with beer pint in hands went viral. The report says that the BCCI officials have strong objection with such behaviour, which is more West Indian than Indian. The beaches and beer are a part of Caribbean culture and not Indian, a message that the board has sent across to the team through manager Riyaz Bagwan. ALSO SEE: Guess who turned commentator for Team India’s beach volleyball session?

The report quotes a BCCI source as saying, “Some of the board officials aren’t happy with players posting such images on social media. There has been no written communication, but the manager has been asked to send a message to the players to ensure that nothing that could set a bad example should be posted online”.

The picture that has been doing rounds on social media features opener KL Rahul with a beer pint in his hand. He is accompanied by all-rounder Stuart Binny, pacer Umesh Yadav and a support staff member in the image. However, all the other three Team India members are not seen holding a beer pint. After the BCCI cracking the whip, the players have deleted the image from their official handles, according to the report.

The BCCI hierarchy feels that the players are role models, and they should behave the same way. The report quoted another BCCI official as saying, “Many kids blindly follow the star cricketers’ actions on and off the field, so our boys have got to always keep that in mind. They should always consider the sense and sensitivities of Indian cricket fans”. Team India plays the first of the four Tests against West Indies from July 21 in Antigua.