Cricketers get best Asian Games rooms amid facilities concerns

Cricketers competing at the Asian Games in Japan are set to receive superior accommodation compared to athletes in other sports, according to the head of the Japan Cricket Association. This comes after concerns were raised about inadequate facilities, particularly the lack of five-star hotels for players. The games, scheduled to begin September 19 in Nagoya and surrounding areas of Aichi, have sparked discussions among officials and teams over the conditions under which cricketers will compete. A Sri Lankan official revealed that several top cricket teams in Asia had voiced worries about the quality of accommodations and overall facilities during the event. These concerns were echoed by media reports from India, which noted dissatisfaction with the arrangements. As a result, the Indian cricket board considered sending a second-string squad after initially planning to send a 15-player team led by Shreyas Iyer, including a 15-year-old emerging talent named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Cricket continues to hold a relatively low profile in Japan, and matches will take place at a newly constructed venue known as Korogi Sports Park. Located approximately 40 minutes by train from central Nagoya, this site was previously a baseball field. Reports indicate that the facilities include tents serving as dressing rooms, while washrooms are situated some distance away from the playing area. These conditions have drawn criticism from both international and local stakeholders. Unlike past editions of the Asian Games, there will be no dedicated athletes' village. Instead, participants will be housed in a variety of settings, including cabins on a cruise ship, temporary wooden structures, and hotels spread throughout the region. Organizers confirmed that the number of athletes has pushed the available accommodations to their limits, with a total of 17,000 athletes registered for the event. For context, around 11,000 athletes participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The cricket tournament is managed jointly by the Asian Games organizing committee and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Naoki Alex Miyaji, CEO of the Japan Cricket Association, stated that discussions regarding accommodation options had been ongoing for a considerable period. He emphasized that cricket teams are being provided with hotel stays, whereas athletes in other sports face more restricted living conditions, such as those on a cruise ship or in container-based accommodations. Miyaji acknowledged the challenges faced by organizers, noting that they had only 17 months to prepare for the inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games, starting from scratch. Despite these constraints, he assured that efforts were made to offer the most comfortable spaces possible for players and officials. The facilities, though temporary, aim to meet the necessary standards for competition. Regarding the playing conditions, Miyaji mentioned that the pitch is being curated by an expert from the 35,000-capacity Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka. He described the playing surface and field as being among the best ever seen for cricket's debut at the Asian Games. This assurance aims to alleviate some of the concerns raised by teams and officials about the overall quality of the event's infrastructure.