The Indian cricketers competing at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan will stay at the designated accommodation arranged by the Organising Committee, though they are not the five-star hotels they usually get on foreign tours, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said on Tuesday.
Shukla said the issue on the accommodation of the hotels for the cricketers had arisen due to the scarcity of top-rated hotels in Nagoya. He, however, said accommodation of the cricketers was not a big issue, and the BCCI and the players are satisfied with the arrangement.
“Whatever they (organisers) are providing, we are staying there, and we are keeping a watch on what kind of accommodation is being given so that our players are comfortable. Definitely those are not five-star but good accommodation,” Shukla said at the send-off ceremony of the Indian contingent.
“Whatever has been offered to our cricketers – that accommodation we have got the photographs all the way and the videos also of that, so I think it’s comfortable. They (cricketers) will be going and staying there because otherwise the options were to make them stay in Osaka or Tokyo, which are far away.” Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha also said that the problem has been sorted out, but there still remains some lack of clarity over who booked the rooms for the cricketers.
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“No problem, I think. We have already booked (the hotels). For every player, we cannot book hotel rooms because the accommodation is (not) like (Athletes’) Village. They (organisers) are providing a ship and small villas also,” Usha told PTI.
“We also booked the hotel rooms for the players (other athletes). And the cricketers, BCCI, also have booked the hotel for them. Whatever the best hotel is there in Nagoya or Japan, whatever it is, the best one, the cricketers will get it, just like others (other athletes) get.” Shukla said that the cricketers will not be staying in the twin-sharing rooms but in separate ones. The team will leave for Tokyo on September 20 and play a historic T20 against Japan on September 22. India opens its Asian Games campaign on September 28.
“The problem was that Nagoya hasn’t got many hotels. Tokyo is one and a half hours by bullet train, and so is Osaka. But in the Asian Games, all the participants are like families; it doesn’t look nice that some teams stay in Tokyo and some in Osaka, so it has been decided that our players will live at a hotel accommodation there (at Nagoya).” He sought to downplay the accommodation issue, saying that the main issue was the condition of the ground, wickets and dressing rooms.
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“The big issue was the ground, wicket and dressing rooms. They (organisers) have addressed those things. The Asian Cricket Council’s team had gone there, and now they (ACC team) are satisfied with the ground, the wickets and dressing rooms; everything is fine.” Asked who has arranged the accommodation of the cricketers, Shukla said, “That’s being organised by the Indian Olympic Association, the Asian Games Organising Committee and the Japan Cricket Association.
“At the ACC meeting in Bangkok, which I had also participated in, 52 representatives from various countries were there. We had a full presentation by a Japanese representative, and he has assured us that all the arrangements will be made keeping in mind the comfort of the players. They have provided the hotels. If there are gaps or loopholes, we will address them.” He, however, refused to comment on the details of the hotels the players will stay in.
“I haven’t got hotel details, so I cannot comment on that, but definitely comfortable accommodation will be provided.” India is the defending champion in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
“India will definitely do well there. We also have a match on September 22 (India vs Japan for the Suzuki Cup). It will be the first match in Japan. It’s being organised very well as far as the Asian Games are concerned. Or full contingent is going with the most talented players, and I hope that we’ll definitely win.”
Published on Sep 08, 2026
