The Indian cricket board has reportedly complained to Cricket Australia about a number of Brisbane hotel services that Ajinkya Rahane’s team will call home until the end of the Test series.
The visitors were reluctant to travel to the Queensland capital to play the series decider starting in Gabba on Friday, worried about what kind of security restrictions could be on the cards.
Queensland’s border is currently closed to travellers from Sydney because of Covid-19 cases, meaning Australia and India’s squads had to shuffle into hotel quarantine after their chartered flight touched down in Brisbane.
Arrangements And Exemptions
The state government has provided exemptions for players to train and play in Gabba, and to meet in the public areas of the inner-city hotel that is fully accredited and booked out by CA.
CA chief executive Nick Hockley could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief on Monday after the Board of Control for Cricket in India agreed to arrangements proposed by the home board and Queensland officials.
What Are The Complaints Of The Players?
But visitors/tourists of the Indian team made it clear to the CA after Tuesday’s entry that their experience did not meet expectations, according to several Indian media outlets.
Indian players’ concerns reportedly include the quality of the gym, the fact that the hotel pool and restaurant are closed, and the lack of room service and housekeeping.
There is a three-day break between the third and fourth tests, the tourist team full of injuries wishing to ensure that its players can recover as much as possible while under lockdown measures.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah and chief executive Hemang Amin all reportedly raised concerns about what they were hearing from the Indian party on the ground.
The Times of India quoted an unnamed BCCI chief executive as saying that the CA had issued a new confirmation on Tuesday regarding hotel services.
Changes From CA
“The board has been told that the team has been given access to all the lifts in the hotel. They can use a gym too. It has been assured that there will be room service and housekeeping,” the BCCI official said.
“The team has also been given a team room where they can assemble and have meetings. Only the swimming pool is not open.
“The players are exhausted and have retired to their rooms. But they would like to go out for a stroll later … BCCI is always by the side of its players and will ensure they get the best treatment.”
