Indian cricket team (ANI Photo)
The IOA, he stressed, has to ensure equal treatment and the welfare of the entire Indian contingent across 36 sports.
IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer, speaking to TOI, said the BCCI is free to make its own arrangements if the organisers’ hotels don’t suit its requirements, but the decision and the accompanying logistical responsibility would rest with the Board.
They return from the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sept 13 and are scheduled to fly to Nagoya the following day. Their Asian Games campaign begins directly in the quarterfinals on Sept 18, with their tournament scheduled to conclude on Sept 22. The men, led by Shreyas Iyer , will travel later, leaving for Japan on Sept 21. They too enter directly at the quarterfinal stage, with their campaign running from Sept 28 and the team scheduled to return on Oct 4.
An advance team is travelling to Japan early next week to inspect the hotels, cricket venue and other facilities before the Board takes a final call, sources revealed.
All sports, athletes, coaches and the entire delegation are treated equally by IOA,” Iyer said. Our objective is that the entire Indian delegation has a comfortable stay and a wonderful experience in Japan,” he said. “BCCI CEO Hemang Amin got in touch with us (IOA), and we had a fruitful discussion. They are contemplating sending an advance team to Japan to assess the facilities. The IOA is completely fine with that. Based on their assessment, they can decide whether they want to use the organisers’ facilities or make their own arrangements. It is for the BCCI and the organisers to work out the best solution. The women, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, face the first logistical test. With both teams having different arrival windows, the BCCI is now looking at the accommodation and logistics from its own perspective. “The BCCI is taking care of its athletes, and sending an advance team is the right way to assess the facilities before making a decision. We are completely for the well-being of the athletes.