India reportedly complain to Cricket Australia about Brisbane Test hotel

India’s cricket board has reportedly complained to Cricket Australia about several aspects of the Brisbane bubble that Ajinkya Rahane’s team will call home until the Test series ends.

The tourists had been reluctant to travel to Queensland’s capital for the series decider that begins at the Gabba on Friday, worried about what sort of biosecurity restrictions could be on the cards.

Queensland’s border is currently closed to travellers from Sydney because of Covid-19 cases, meaning Australia and India’s squads had to shuffle into hotel quarantine after their chartered flight touched down in Brisbane.

The state government has provided exemptions for players to train and play at the Gabba, and mingle in communal areas of the inner-city hotel that has been booked out entirely by CA.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief on Monday after the Board of Control for Cricket in India agreed to arrangements proposed by the home board and Queensland officials.

But the tourists made it clear to CA after Tuesday’s check-in that their experience did not meet expectations, according to several media outlets in India.

India’s concerns reportedly included the standard of the gym, the fact that the hotel pool and restaurant were closed, and absence of room service and housekeeping.

There is a three-day break between the third and fourth Tests, with the injury-riddled touring party keen to ensure its players can recover as well as possible while in lockdown.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah and chief executive Hemang Amin all reportedly raised concerns about what they were hearing from the team on the ground.

The Times of India quoted an unnamed senior BCCI official, who claimed that CA gave fresh assurances on Tuesday regarding hotel facilities.

“The board has been told that the team has been given access to all the lifts in the hotel. They can use a gym too. It has been assured that there will be room service and housekeeping,” the BCCI official said.

“The team has also been given a team room where they can assemble and have meetings. Only the swimming pool is not open.

“The players are exhausted and have retired to their rooms. But they would like to go out for a stroll later … BCCI is always by the side of its players and will ensure they get the best treatment.”