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The IOA maintains that it must uphold a standard of equal treatment for all athletes across the 36 sports represented in the Indian contingent. Consequently, the governing body will not facilitate separate arrangements for cricket, leaving the BCCI to decide whether to accept the official housing provided by the Games organisers or to manage its own independent operations.
Logistical Challenges and Team Schedules
The current accommodation plan for the Games has designated the three-star APA Hotel Nagoya Ekimae for the men’s team and the four-star Meitetsu Grand Hotel for the women’s squad. Both properties involve twin-sharing rooms, a setup that has reportedly become a point of contention. With Aichi-Nagoya facing significant pressure on hotel capacity due to a higher-than-expected influx of participants, the BCCI has opted to send an advance team to Japan next week to inspect the facilities before finalizing its plans.
The scheduling for both squads adds further complexity to the situation. The women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is set to arrive in Nagoya on September 14 following the Asia Cup in Dubai, with their quarterfinal campaign beginning on September 18. The men’s team, captained by Shreyas Iyer, is scheduled to travel on September 21, entering the tournament at the quarterfinal stage on September 28. Regardless of where the teams stay, the IOA emphasized that all security, accreditation, and anti-doping protocols—including random testing by WADA and the International Testing Agency—will remain strictly in effect.
Looking Ahead to Olympic Integration
While the immediate focus remains on the Asian Games, the IOA is already coordinating with the Sports Authority of India to streamline logistics for cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Recent site visits to the Fairplex complex in Pomona have highlighted plans to house teams at the Sheraton Fairplex Suites, located adjacent to the new Knight Riders Cricket Ground.
In the lead-up to the Asian Games, the Indian men’s team is also scheduled to face Japan in a T20I match for the Suzuki Cup on September 22. This fixture, which commemorates 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations, will serve as a final competitive warm-up for the squad before their tournament campaign begins.
