BCCI intervenes after India denied basic facilities

It is learnt that BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah and CEO Hemang Amin have all got in touch with their Cricket Australia (CA) counterparts after complaints reached them. They have been assured that the Indian contingent would be made to feel comfortable from here on. The series is tied 1-1 currently.

“There was no room service or housekeeping facilities. The gym is very basic and not of international standards. The swimming pool can’t be accessed. This wasn’t what the players were promised when they checked in,” said a BCCI source.

India will play the fourth Test from January 15 in the Queensland capital, where the surge of COVID-19 cases and a border lockdown with New South Wales has led to strict hotel quarantine for the Ajinkya Rahane-led team.

Asked if the players were being allowed to mingle, the Board source said: “Yes, they have been provided with a team room and are allowed to meet each other inside the hotel.” When asked whether the team had protested with the hotel authorities, the source said: “When the manager enquired about how these things are not being taken care of, all they said was, ‘the rule applies to both India and Australia teams’.” However, the Indian contingent is confident that both Ganguly and Shah would be able to amicably resolve the matter as the injury-ravaged team prepares for the series decider.

Australia had won the opener in Adelaide inside three days, before India came back to clinch the second Test in Melbourne. The two sides shared the honours in an engrossing third Test in Sydney.