BCCI issues emergency statement as Australia A players fall seriously ill during India tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla has boldly defended the facilities provided to the Australian players in Kanpur after the reports of their illness broke out during the ongoing unofficial three-match ODI series against India A.

Rajeev Shukla said that the Australia A player might have attracted some sort of infection that has nothing to do with the food they had at the Hotel Landmark in Kanpur.

BCCI defends Kanpur facilities amid Australia A illness scare

Actually, the Australia A cricket camp has been hit by a stomach infection, with four players affected, including captain Jack Edwards. Fast bowler Henry Thornton’s condition worsened, and he had to be hospitalized at Regency Hospital, while the remaining three players were treated and released after routine medical checks.

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Team sources claimed that the infection could be linked to something consumed at the hotel, but neither the hospital nor team management officially confirmed this.

Well, the illness sparked concerns over food safety at Hotel Landmark, where both the India and Australia players have been staying. Following the incident, the Food Department has collected samples of multiple food items for testing, and the authorities await the result.

Rajeev Shukla rejects hotel food as the cause of Australia A players’ illness in Kanpur

However, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla denied the hotel meals as the cause, stressing that all players eat the same food, and if it were contaminated, the entire team would have fallen ill.

Rajeev Shukla was quoted as saying by IANS: “If there had been an issue with the food, all players, including the Indian players, would have fallen sick. It must have been something else. They are being fed food from one of the finest hotels, Hotel Landmark; the food is good, and everyone is eating the same. Since a few players have fallen ill, they may have contracted an infection, and we are handling it.”

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The BCCI vice-president added, “The issue arises because there aren’t many hotels. We need 300 rooms in a five-star hotel, and that’s not available. There is no international airport in the area that operates 24/7. Had better arrangements been in place, they would have gained an advantage.”

Kanpur, UP: During the IND A vs AUS A match, some Australian players fell ill. The Food Department has collected samples of several food items from the Landmark Hotel for testing

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla says, "If there was anything wrong with the food, all India-Australia… pic.twitter.com/NLVeAC4rFh

— IANS (@ians_india) October 5, 2025

BCCI Vice-President explains why player illnesses rarely hit IPL

He also clarified why issues like player illnesses rarely occur during the IPL but appear in senior international or unofficial matches. Shukla explained that during the IPL, the BCCI has no control over player accommodations or food arrangements, as all decisions are managed entirely by the franchises. But for the international and unofficial matches, the BCCI arranges stays and meals.

Shukla signed off by saying, “In the case of the IPL, everything depends on the franchises. They decide where the players stay, and it’s entirely their choice, as the BCCI does not have any role in the decision-making. They choose a hotel of their preference.”

Notably, India A had dominated the first unofficial ODI with a strong performance, but Australia A bounced back in the second match. The visitors leveled the series 1-1 with a comfortable nine-wicket win over India A to keep the series alive. The final game is being played in Kanpur on Sunday.