The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday appealed to its players to come up with a good showing and reinstall the faith of the country's fans before the team left for the twin tours of Ireland and England.
Every member of the 15-member squad, led by captain Rahul Dravid, was issued a list of do's and don'ts for the 80-day tour.
The BCCI hoped that the players would rebuild the confidence of Indian cricket fans after the disastrous showing in recent months, which also included a first round exit from the World Cup.
"Indian cricket is passing through a difficult phase after our poor showing in the World Cup and along with the BCCI the players have also gone through some tough time," the BCCI said in a two-page letter, given to the players on the eve of their departure for the United Kingdom.
"You have an opportunity to rebuild the confidence of the people in Indian cricket and we are sure that you will do your best on this tour," the letter added.
There was also an important point on discipline.
Former India coach Greg Chappell had openly criticised the behaviour of some of the team members during the World Cup in the West Indies.
"You are representing the country where all actions of yours will be closely followed and we have to impress upon all the members of the squad to be disciplined at all times both on and off the field," the letter said.
It also asked the players not to leak out dressing room talk, which so famously became part of the daily media diet after the shocking World Cup exit.
"Please ensure that all the talks in the dressing room and in team meetings is extremely confidential and always respect this."
Some important points from the letter are listed below:
DAILY ALLOWANCE:
At Ireland: Pounds 50 per day
At Glasgow: Pounds 50 per day
For England Tour: Pounds 47.50 per day
MEDICAL EXPENSES:
All the members of the team are insured for medical needs particularly for any major expenses on the tour.
PRIZE MONEY:
All prize monies in foreign currency including individual awards must be immediately handed over to the manager who will submit the same on return to India
MEDIA RELATIONS:
The team management will decide the player who would be expected to talk to the media on practice days. On match days the performer of the day must be available for the media briefing.
Captain and manager will meet the media at the per and post-match media briefings.
All the players have to extend co-operation to the official broadcaster of the England Cricket Board for headshots and interviews during the match when called upon.
Dress code for the media interaction:
ONLY THE OFFICIAL CLOTHING WITH LOGO OF SAHARA AND NIKE TO BE USED. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE ANY INTERVIEWS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE TEAM MANAGEMENT
TEAM DISCIPLINE:
You are representing the country where all action of yours will be closely followed and we have to impress upon all the members of the squad to be disciplined at all times both on and off the field.
Please ensure that all the talks in the dressing room and in team meetings is extremely confidential and always respect this.
INDIAN CRICKET IS PASSING THROUGH A DIFFICULT PHASE AFTER OUR POOR SHOWING IN THE WORLD CUP AND ALONG WITH THE BCCI THE PLAYERS HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIME.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE IN INDIAN CRICKET AND WE ARE SURE THAT YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST ON THIS TOUR.
