BCCI and India often draw flak from fans around the world for poor facilities at the stadium. But one of the richest countries in the world, the United States is now under fire. The facilities and the gym at the team hotel Rohit Sharma & Co are staying in Long Island are poor Hence, BCCI, the richest cricket board in the world, has taken it upon themselves and got the players a gym membership in New York City for the T20 World Cup. India vs. the USA on Wednesday will end Rohit Sharma & Co’s stay in New York, and they will travel to Florida next.
As per a News18 report, the players were not happy with the hotel facilities. And after receiving complaints from the players, BCCI swiftly bought a membership of a popular gym chain in New York.
“The team doesn’t use the hotel gym and they have a membership of a gym nearby and everyone uses that. It is a very popular gym chain,” News18 CricketNext cited a source.
New York bubble bursts
India Cricket Team is staying in Long Island. The hotel is closer to Nassau County Cricket Stadium. While Team India was offered a hotel in New York, they chose to stay in Long Island to avoid long travel. Long Island is about 80 kms away from New York City.
However, Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and others were not pleased with the practice facilities either. ICC arranged Cantiague Park with six drop-in pitches for practice. However, it turned out to be a family park rather than a practice venue for professional cricketers. But the team management or the BCCI did not lodge an official complaint to the ICC regarding this.
“It’s a bit strange to be practising in a park. Obviously, at the World Cups you’d be at big cricket stadiums traditionally. But you know, we’re at a public park and practising,” Rahul Dravid told reporters ahead of India’s opening match in New York.
Rushed arrangements for T20 World Cup
The Nassau Cricket Stadium was completed only a few days before the IND vs BAN warm-up clash. However, other facilities had to be rushed to completion. The practice facilities and arrangements for fans and media at the Nassau Stadium are all makeshift and rushed. To add to the woes, the New York pitch has been a nightmare for all batters.
“We all are aware of the rushed arrangements everywhere. From practice to ground to the gym facilities in the hotel, everything is here and there. Chaos is the right word,” News18’s source added.
Things won’t be any good in the Caribbean either. Caribbean islands are a nightmare for travellers when it comes to flights and missing luggage. The last time India were in Barbados, half of the team’s luggage did not arrive on time. Furthermore, practice facilities did not please Indian players either.
Hence, ICC should reconsider hosting matches in USA & West Indies in future until the facilities are up and running.
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