XtraTime Web Desk: The Indian cricket team led by Virat Kohli has put some requests during the team’s review meeting with the Committee of Administrators (CoA) in Hyderabad for the World Cup.
They have asked for a reserved train coach, permission for wives to stay with the cricketers during the entire World Cup and bananas.
As per the reports of the Indian Express a source of BCCI said that the plea for buying bananas on the board expenses has surprised the CoA the most.
“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,” sources said.
“There were other demands about booking hotels with a proper gym and discussions about the duration and protocol regarding wives accompanying players on tours,” sources said.
India begun their tour of England by clinching the T20I series but lost the ODI and Test series. The review meeting was held to discuss about India’s performance against England. Skipper Virat Kohli, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and star opener Rohit Sharma, head coach Ravi Shastri and chairman of selection committee MSK Prasad all were present there.
The players also wish to travel by train in England during the World Cup and in this issue the CoA is a bit concerned due to security reasons. “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 report quoted the source as saying.
Finally talks moved to the BCCI allowing the wives to accompany the players. The CoA will be arranging for a bus for the wives who will travel to Australia at the end of this year. “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,” the source said.
As for allowing wives to travel for the whole duration of a tour, the source said: “It was felt that some players might view this as a distraction during tours. They (CoA) want to make sure that everyone is onboard before they give the green light.”