Indian cricket team players likely to get ‘business class’ upgrade

The Indian cricket team players may start travelling in business class after they told BCCI how difficult it gets for them to travel in the economy-class section.

Indian cricketers may find themselves travelling in business class in the future as it’s learnt that they have spoken to the BCCI management on how difficult it gets for them to travel in the economy-class section. According to a report in The Times of India, a number of cricketers, including skipper Virat Kohli, brought up the issue with the management.

Indian cricket players may soon start travelling in business class instead of economy during their tours. (AFP)

Cricketers in India are celebrities and are extremely well-known figures unlike a few sportspersons of other disciplines where they have even had to travel on train bogeys at times. Thus, if spotted in public, the cricketers are not just mobbed, but the surrounding changes drastically, sometimes even compromising their privacy and security.

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The report further adds that the cricketers have stated that co-passengers often invade their space and with the constant number of selfies and autograph requests, the travel turns into quite a hectic affair. Cricketers like Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami also struggle for leg-space in the economy section. Also, having to stand in queues to collect baggage becomes an arduous task as well.

BCCI’s top-brass is aware of the situation and have promised to act accordingly. “We should re-consider this and take a call on it,” BCCI’s acting President CK Khanna was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

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Back in September earlier this year, former World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had advocated that the cash-rich body should purchase its own airplanes to make it a hassle-free journey for its players. “Now that BCCI is making good money, it should have its own plane. It will save a lot of time and make life easier for Team India. The board can afford it. They should have done it five years ago,” Kapil Dev was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

“I would also love to see some cricketers buying their own aircrafts in the days to come. In the US, top golfers have their own planes. I don’t see any reason why our players can’t buy it as it will save them a lot of time. I also believe that if BCCI owns planes, the players will get enough rest between matches. I am sure BCCI can also afford the parking charges,” Dev had further added.