The BCCI has arranged separate accommodation for India’s men’s cricket team at the Asian Games in Japan, while the women’s team will stay in facilities provided by the Games organising committee.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made separate accommodation arrangements for the men’s cricket team at the Asian Games in Japan, citing the size of the contingent and its support staff.
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The decision comes amid reports of accommodation-related concerns at the Asian Games, with the Indian men’s team set to stay outside the facilities provided by the Games organising committee.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board opted for separate arrangements because the men’s contingent exceeds the permitted number of members.
“BCCI has arranged its own arrangement for the men’s team since the contingent is much bigger than the permissible number of members because of the size of the support staff. We don’t want to segregate the men’s team during the tournament,” Saikia told The Times of India.
The women’s team, meanwhile, will stay at the accommodation provided by the organising committee as its contingent falls within the permitted limit of 20 members, Saikia said.
The accommodation issue comes at a time when questions have also been raised over facilities at the match venues. Reports have suggested that some Asian cricket boards have expressed concerns about the quality of the ground.
However, Saikia said the BCCI has confidence in the local organising committee and expects the facilities to meet the required standards.
“We fully trust the organising committee to give the best facilities. This is a big event and I am sure they will do what is required,” he said. Saikia added that he would reach Japan on October 1 and would be in a better position to assess the situation after arriving there.
FULL-STRENGTH INDIA EYES ASIAN GAMES GOLD
India’s participation in the Asian Games has also generated discussion within cricket circles because the tournament overlaps with the team’s preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup.
India are scheduled to play an ODI series against the West Indies at home, while at least seven first-choice ODI players are expected to feature at the Asian Games.
India won the gold medal in cricket at the 2023 Asian Games with a second-string side, while several premier players were rested to focus on preparations for the ODI World Cup.
This time, however, the BCCI has opted to send a full-strength T20I squad. Saikia said the board considers the Asian Games gold medal an important target and does not want the event to receive secondary treatment.
“We are eyeing a gold medal which is very important,” Saikia said, adding that India has enough depth to field three strong teams simultaneously. He also confirmed that the full-strength team, including Jasprit Bumrah and regular captain Shreyas Iyer, will travel for the tournament.
INDIA-JAPAN T20I LINKED TO JAY SHAH INITIATIVE
The BCCI has also announced a T20I between India and Japan on September 22 as part of celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Saikia said the idea originated with ICC chairman Jay Shah, who encouraged the BCCI to help expand cricket’s reach in Japan.
According to Saikia, Shah brought the Indian and Japanese cricket officials together during the ICC meeting in Edinburgh in July, leading to discussions over the proposed fixture. Japan, he said, is gradually developing its cricket ecosystem.
The match is expected to add another dimension to India’s Asian Games campaign while also serving as part of the celebrations marking the India-Japan diplomatic milestone.
