Cricket boards flag Asian Games concerns over untested pitch, tiny hotel rooms

A hybrid cricket pitch, newly constructed, has sparked concerns among Asian Games cricket boards. The surface, located in Nisshin, Japan, is still untested and may pose challenges for athletes. Additionally, the venue's hotel accommodations are criticized for being too small, with minimal space to store players' kitbags. This issue was brought to light during an Asian Cricket Council meeting, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to seek advice from the Indian Olympic Association and the Organising Committee of the Asian Games.

The cricket tournament, set to commence on September 17, will be held at Korogi Sports Park, a baseball ground that underwent a recent transformation in March. The park, designed to hold around 2,000 spectators, features a hybrid pitch with a mix of natural grass and polyethylene fibers. However, the pitch's bounciness has raised doubts among cricket boards.

Furthermore, unlike previous Games, the Aichi-Nagoya edition will not have a traditional athletes' village; instead, participants will stay in hotels, cruise liners, and Games Villas. The room sizes are reportedly too small for two people to share, along with their belongings. India is scheduled to arrive in Nagoya by September 14 or 15, with the women's competition starting on September 17 and the men's team likely playing practice matches before their own competition begins on September 28.