Team India have reportedly made three demands from the BCCI ahead of the next year’s World Cup in England.
Team India’s tour of England earlier this year was a forgettable one. They began the series in the best of manners by winning the T20I series and the first ODI. But from thereon, it was basically an one-way traffic as England won the ODI series 2-1 and the subsequent Test series 4-1.
What made India’s sojourn in England even more unpleasant was the some off-field problems. And to make sure that the players do not face the same situation during next year’s World Cup, Team India has put forward three demands. According to The New Indian Express, the team has demanded for a separate reserved rail coach, permission for the players’ wives to stay for the full tour and bananas.
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The team forwarded the requests during the review meeting with the Committee of Administrators (CoA) in Hyderabad. The review meeting was held before the second Test against Windies and was attended by skipper Virat Kohli, Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma, coach Ravi Shastri and chairman of selection committee M S K Prasad.
Out of the three demands, the one that really surprised the CoA was the team’s plea for bananas. A source said that the England and Wales Cricket Board failed to provide the Indian team the fruit of their choice during the series earlier this year.
“Apparently, the England cricket board failed to serve the Indian team with the fruit of their choice during the tour. But the CoA was amused by the request and said that the players should have told the team manager to buy bananas on the BCCI’s expenses,” a sources told the news outlet.
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“There were other demands about booking hotels with a proper gym. And discussions about the duration and protocol regarding wives accompanying players on tours,” the source added.
The other demand that raised eyebrows in the CoA was the preference for train travel in England during next year’s World Cup. It comes after the CoA decided that wives of players travelling to Australia for the tour starting next month will not be allowed to travel in the official team bus. The Vinod Rai-led committee had decided that the wives would travel in a separate vehicle.
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“There have been instances in past where a few players have driven with their wives separately. The board wants to stop that practice as it affects team bonding,” a source said.
The players convinced the BCCI and CoA of travelling in train by claiming that it saves times and is more comfortable.
“The CoA was initially not willing to agree because it was worried about security. But it was informed by Kohli that the England team travelled by train… The team wants a coach to be blocked and booked. The CoA was worried about travelling Indian fans mobbing the train. Eventually, the committee agreed under the condition that the CoA or BCCI won’t be held responsible if anything untoward happens,” the source claimed.
Meanwhile, the much-awaited World Cup will get underway on May 30 with hosts England taking on South Africa in the opener at The Oval in London. India will start their campaign against the Proteas on June 5. The tournament will culminate with the fifth final of the World Cup at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 14.