The BCCI spent almost Rs 3.5 crore on the Indian cricket team's travel after a nearly faultless tour of England. The team then travelled to the Caribbean for the white ball series.
On July 17, the final one-day international match against England ended, and the players who had been rested for the subsequent 50-over matches went their own ways. But instead of taking a commercial flight, the players who were meant to go to the West Indies got together and took a chartered one. As a result, a flight from Manchester to Port of Spain cost the BCCI a sizable sum, according to a Times of India report.
Beginning on July 22, the team will play three ODIs in the Caribbean. On July 29, five T20Is will commence. For the T20Is, regular captain Rohit Sharma, Pant, and Pandya will be back in the lineup while Kohli, Bumrah, and Chahal have been rested.
"The chartered flight, which Team India boarded from Manchester to Port of Spain (the capital of Trinidad and Tobago) around 11.30 p.m. IST on Tuesday, cost the BCCI Rs 3.5 crore. Not Covid-19 was the reason a chartered aeroplane was scheduled for the squad. It's challenging to reserve that many seats on a commercial airline for the Indian contingent, which consists of 16 players and staffers, including head coach Rahul Dravid. Additionally, there are players' wives who have visited the Caribbean "A source close to the BCCI was quoted by TOI as saying.
The insider continued that considering how widespread the practise has become, particularly among the top football clubs in the globe, it made sense to reserve a chartered aeroplane as opposed to a commercial airline.
"Normally, this cost would have been close to Rs 2 crore on a commercial flight. From Manchester to Port of Spain, a business class ticket will cost approximately Rs 2 lakh. Even though a chartered flight is more expensive, doing so makes sense. now that most elite football teams have a charter, " he added.
As rain stopped them from practising outside when Team India, led by Shikhar Dhawan, arrived in Trinidad on Wednesday, they were forced to use indoor nets in preparation for the first ODI of the three-match series beginning on Friday.
As the final practise session had to be cancelled due to rain on Thursday, the BCCI released a video report on the indoor nets.
"preparing for the first ODI against the West Indies Here is a report from @ShubmanGill on the first net session for #TeamIndia in Trinidad "Together with the video, BCCI was tweeted.