According to Rajiv Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian cricketers participating in the Asian Games in Japan will stay at accommodations provided by the Games’ Organising Committee. Unlike their typical preference for five-star hotels during international tours, this time they will be housed in different facilities during the continental event.
Recently, there were reports indicating dissatisfaction within the BCCI regarding the accommodation arrangements. However, Shukla downplayed these concerns, stating that both the board and the players were content with the provided facilities. “We will stay wherever the organisers have arranged and are monitoring the accommodations to ensure our players’ comfort. While these may not be five-star options, they are still of good quality,” Shukla remarked during the send-off event for the Indian team. He added that they have received photographs and videos of the accommodations, assuring that they would be comfortable. He noted that the only alternative would have been to accommodate players in Osaka or Tokyo, which are considerable distances away.
Shukla also confirmed that each player would have individual rooms rather than sharing, a decision influenced by the limited availability of high-quality hotels in Nagoya. “Nagoya lacks many hotels. Tokyo and Osaka are about one and a half hours away by bullet train. Since all teams at the Asian Games are considered part of a family, it would not be appropriate for some teams to stay in Tokyo while others are in Osaka. Thus, it has been decided that our players will stay in accommodations in Nagoya,” he explained.
He expressed that the primary concerns were related to the condition of the playing facilities, including the pitch and dressing rooms. “The main issues were the ground conditions, wicket quality, and the dressing rooms. The organisers have addressed these matters. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) team has visited and is now satisfied with the condition of the ground, wickets, and dressing rooms,” Shukla stated. When asked about who was responsible for the players’ accommodation, he clarified that arrangements were made by the Indian Olympic Association, the Asian Games Organising Committee, and the Japan Cricket Association.
India has selected its full-strength squads for both the men’s and women’s competitions, with Shreyas Iyer captaining the men’s team and Harmanpreet Kaur leading the women’s team.
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