Asian Games: BCCI reserves separate accommodation for men’s cricket team, women stay at Games facilities
India players celebrate the wicket of Afghanistan’s Sediqullah Atal during the third and final T20I cricket match between India and Afghanistan in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: As reports of an accommodation crisis began to emerge from the Asian Games in Japan, it emerged that the Board of Cricket in India (BCCI) had arranged its own accommodation for the men’s cricket team.“BCCI has made its own arrangement for the men’s team as the contingent is much larger than the permissible strength due to the size of the support staff. We do not want to segregate the men’s team during the tournament,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told TOI.“The women’s team remains in the facilities provided by the organizing committee, as the size of the contingent is within the permissible number of 20 members,” he added.However, Saikia insisted that the BCCI trusted the local organizing committee to provide satisfactory ground facilities at the venue despite reports of other Asian cricket boards raising objections over the quality of the pitch. “We have full confidence in the organizing committee to provide the best facilities. It is a big event and I am sure they will do what is needed. I will be there on October 1. Only then can I give you a clear picture of the circumstances,” he added.
“Asian gold is as important as any other title”
There have been conflicting views in Indian cricket circles over the board’s decision to field a full-strength T20I squad for the Asian Games, coinciding with the start of preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup as India plans to play an ODI series against the West Indies at home. India will have at least seven first-choice ODI players playing in the Asian Games. Interestingly, India won the gold medal at the last Asian Games in 2023 with a second-tier team as the top players were held back in preparation for the 2023 ODI World Cup.Saikia claimed that the board’s decision was based on the realization of the value of the Asian Games gold medal. “We are eyeing a gold medal which is very important. We all know that India can field three strong teams at once. We see the Asian Games as a very important task which cannot be sidelined. That is why we are going with our full squad including Bumrah and regular captain Iyer. The Asian Games gold is as important as any other major tournament,” Saikia said.“When the last Asian Games were held, I was not the secretary. So I cannot comment on that,” he added.
“The match against Japan was the ICC chairman’s idea”
The BCCI also announced a T20I match against Japan on September 22 to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. Saikia revealed that the idea of the match was initiated by ICC Chairman Jay Shah. “It is the initiative of ICC Chairman Jay Shah who wants to take cricket to every nook and cranny of the world. He made me sit down with my Japanese counterpart during the last ICC meeting in Edinburgh in July this year. Japan is a country where cricket is gradually growing. Mr. Shah took this initiative and we agreed to the idea,” Saikia said.