Dhaka officials scramble to book extra suite for Dhoni

India management and Dhaka team hotel officials fret over finding extra suite once Dhoni arrives.

It’s a concern that should be sorted out. But then it could keep nagging till it’s actually worked out. As is the protocol on every tour undertaken by India, the captain, coach and manager stay in executive class suites while the rest are given less expensive rooms. But this tour is a little different.

Dhoni

After the one-off Test, MS Dhoni will take over from Test skipper Virat Kohli for the ODI leg of the tour. That could create a situation where, if India strictly follow the norms, Kohli should be asked to vacate his room for Dhoni. That, of course, can never be done. And the management has already spoken to the hotel authorities to ensure that there is one room upgrade after the Fatullah Test. But according to a team official, it remains a concern till it’s actually sorted out.

The same situation arose on the Australia tour where Dhoni took over from Kohli in the second Test at Brisbane after recovering from injury. But unlike that trip, where India were constantly on the move, this time they will stay at the same Dhaka hotel for the entire tour.

Special Status

Anyway, India have been given royal status here. The Bangladesh contingent, comprising 23 players and staff members, has been given 22 rooms with tariff of around $125 per night besides one executive suite ($240 per night). But India’s touring party of 29 has been given 26 single rooms (tariff around $140 per night) and three suites. Concern surrounds turning those three suites into four at the end of the Test.

Talk of the dilemma caused by having different captains for different formats!