The Board of Control for Cricket in India has accepted standard hotel accommodations in Nagoya for the upcoming Asian Games to ensure squads remain close to playing venues.
Male players will stay at the three-star APA Hotel Nagoya Ekimae, while the women’s group is assigned to the four-star Meitetsu Grand Hotel. BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla confirmed the board prioritised proximity over five-star luxury in Tokyo or Osaka, which require a one and a half hour commute by bullet train.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Shukla outlined that the board secured separate rooms rather than twin-sharing arrangements. “The problem was that Nagoya hasn’t got many hotels. Tokyo is one and a half hour by bullet train, 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 hotel accommodation there,” Shukla said.
Pitch Inspections Clear Travel Plans
Asian Cricket Council officials assessed the local facilities before approving the schedule. Shukla noted that inspectors approved the condition of the ground, wickets and dressing rooms.
Full Strength Squads Confirmed
India enter the tournament defending both gold medals won at the 2023 Games. According to The Times of India, Shukla dismissed suggestions of fielding secondary sides. “It is a complete rumour that we are sending our ‘B’ team. Our full contingent is going with the most talented players, and I hope we will definitely win,” he added.
The women’s squad features several recent T20I rankings climbers. The men’s contingent departs on September 20 ahead of a warm-up fixture against Japan on September 22, supported by a new domestic broadcast agreement. The main cricket campaign begins on September 28.
