No special ‘room’ for cricket: IOA draws line on BCCI’s Asian Games stay

IOA Draws the Line on BCCI Asian Games Accommodation Row 🏏

New Delhi: If the BCCI feels its players need to stay outside the official Asian Games hotels in Aichi-Nagoya, then the board will have to take full responsibility for rooms, food, transport, and ensuring the squad reaches the venue on time. The IOA simply won't create a special "room" for cricket.

The Official Position

IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer made it crystal clear to TOI that equal treatment is non-negotiable across all 36 sports. "The IOA is completely fine with [the BCCI] sending an advance team to Japan to assess the facilities," Iyer said. "Based on their assessment, they can decide whether they want to use the organisers' facilities or make their own arrangements."

He stressed: "All sports, athletes, coaches and the entire delegation are treated equally by IOA."

What's Been Allotted So Far

For now, the OC has a designated plan. The men are at the 3-star APA Hotel Nagoya Ekimae, while the women (Harmanpreet's crew) are at the 4-star Meitetsu Grand Hotel. Both have the right amenities but sit a grade below the 5-star the men's team usually enjoys. Rooms are twin-sharing too — another point of contention.

The Timeline

- Women: Return from Asia Cup (Dubai) on Sept 13, fly to Nagoya the next day. Campaign kicks off in the QFs on Sept 18, ending Sept 22.

- Men: Leave for Japan on Sept 21, enter directly at the quarterfinal stage. Campaign runs Sept 28 to Oct 4.

The Bigger Logistical Challenge

Aichi-Nagoya is under real accommodation pressure — athlete counts have jumped to ~17,000 from the original 15,000 plan. Existing hotels are being topped up with mobile accommodation and the Costa Serena cruise ship.

If the BCCI opts for separate hotels, they must arrange the entire operation themselves — but the team stays within the Games system. Accreditation, security, and access protocols continue to apply, and crucially, WADA/ITA dope-control officers must be informed of player locations for random testing.

Looking Ahead to LA28

While Japan's arrangements draw scrutiny, cricket's Olympic return at LA2028 is well underway. Iyer recently joined an IOA-SAI delegation in Los Angeles inspecting facilities. The venue — the new Knight Riders Cricket Ground at Fairplex, Pomona — sits right next to the Sheraton Fairplex Suites, where teams will likely stay.

And before the Games, India and Japan meet in a T20I on Sept 22 for the Suzuki Cup, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations — perfect match practice ahead of the Asian Games. 🇮🇳

Source: Times of India