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An interesting yet surprising update has come on the India National Cricket Team’s campaign at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The Indian players will reportedly stay in the accommodation arranged by the organizers instead of the usual five-star hotels used on foreign tours.
Earlier, there was confusion over the hotel arrangements, with reports saying the BCCI was unhappy with the organizers' accommodation. However, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla has now stressed that the board and players are comfortable with the arrangements for the Asian Games 2026. Also, Rajeev Shukla backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for 2027 ODI World Cup.
No five-star hotel, but BCCI is satisfied with the arrangements in Nagoya for Asian Games 2026
Rajiv Shukla has confirmed that the Indian National Cricket Team will stay at the designated hotel accommodation in Nagoya. The rooms will be separate for each player, meaning they will not have to stay in twin-sharing rooms during the cricket competition in the Asian Games 2026.
The hotels may not be five-star properties, but the BCCI has checked photographs and videos of the accommodation before the players' departure, and they are “comfortable” with it. Another reason for choosing Nagoya is that staying in Tokyo or Osaka would mean a long journey for the team.
Tokyo and Osaka are around one and a half hours away from Nagoya by bullet train. The organisers also wanted all participating teams to stay together rather than having some teams based in Tokyo and others in Osaka for the Asian Games 2026.
Why India will not stay in Tokyo or Osaka? Rajiv Shukla reveals
The BCCI vice-president said at the send-off ceremony of the Indian contingent, as quoted by the Indian Express: “Whatever they (organisers) are providing, we are staying there, and we are keeping a watch on what kind of accommodation is being given so that our players are comfortable. They (cricketers) will be going and staying there because otherwise the options were to make them stay in Osaka or Tokyo, which is far away.”
Shukla further added, “The problem was that Nagoya didn’t have many hotels. Tokyo is one and a half hours by bullet train, and 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 (at Nagoya).”
Asian Games 2026 cricket venue gets ACC approval
However, Rajiv Shukla admitted that the bigger concern was not the hotel but the ground, wicket and dressing rooms. These issues have now been addressed by the organisers. The BCCI vice-president further revealed that a team from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) visited the venue and checked the facilities and team is now satisfied with the ground, wickets and dressing rooms.
The BCCI vice-president also shared that accommodation is being arranged through the Indian Olympic Association, the Asian Games Organising Committee and the Japan Cricket Association. Amid this, Supreme Court questions BCCI over resistance to National Sports Governance Act.
He added, “The big issue was the ground, wicket and dressing rooms. They (organisers) have addressed those things. The Asian Cricket Council’s team has gone there, and now they (the ACC team) are satisfied with the ground, the wickets and the dressing rooms; everything is fine. That’s being organised by the Indian Olympic Association, the Asian Games Organising Committee and the Japan Cricket Association.”
