BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla has expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for the Indian cricket teams at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, while
addressing concerns over accommodation, ground facilities and player comfort.
India are scheduled to begin their Asian Games campaign on September 22, with Shukla confident that the teams will perform well in the competition.
"I think Team India will definitely do well. There is a match on 22nd September and it will be the first match. We are in Japan and it has been organised very well. We are participating in many games, and I hope that we will definitely win," Shukla said at the Asian Games send-off event on Tuesday.
There had been concerns regarding accommodation, particularly over the possibility of players having to stay in twin-sharing rooms. Shukla explained that the limited availability of hotels in Nagoya had created logistical challenges, with Tokyo and Osaka both around one-and-a-half hours away by bullet train.
"That was the problem because Nagoya hasn't got many hotels. Tokyo is one and a half hours by bullet train, so is Osaka. But this is a family version game. All the participants are like family, so it doesn't look like some stay in Tokyo and some stay in Osaka. So it has been decided that we live there," he said.
Shukla added that while the accommodation may not be five-star, it would be comfortable. He also stressed that the major focus had been on ensuring suitable playing conditions.
"The main concern of ours was the ground and wickets and dressing rooms. They have addressed that, and now the dressing rooms are also fine and so are the other facilities at the ground," Shukla said.
According to Shukla, the BCCI's team that inspected the facilities in Japan was satisfied with the arrangements.
"Our team which has gone there, they are satisfied with the ground and the wickets which they have prepared, and dressing rooms also. So now everything is fine," he said.
Shukla further clarified that the accommodation is being organised jointly by the Indian Olympic Association, Asian Games authorities and the Japan Cricket Association.
