After the completion of the Indian Premier League (IPL), all the teams are currently focusing on upcoming ICC World Cup which is scheduled to start from May 30 in England. However, the Indian team have been forced to change their airlines ahead of the mega event. The BCCI will now have to plan the travelling plans again as Jet Airways, by which airlines they were about to travel, has been suspended operations due to cashflow crunch. However, The BCCI has been looking for the alternatives which can provide 30 business class berths to the whole team.
India will begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5. The tournament will be played in a round robin manner where all the 10 teams will play each other. The top four teams will qualify for the knockout stage. According to reports, it has become difficult to find such airlines.
“It’s a challenge but we are addressing it. The team will leave as planned on or before May 22,” a BCCI official said while talking to Mumbai Mirror.
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Later, fortunately, the BCCI has finally found the airlines Emirates Airways, where they booked seats for the team. Emirates Airways is also a preferred flying partner of ICC. India team will leave on May 22 for the mega event. India will play two warm-up games there prior to the main event.
Moreover, India head coach Ravi Shastri shared that the team are one of the favourites for the tournament.
“I think we have got all bases covered. Last thing you want is passengers on the tour. You want to have in those 15 players … who can play anytime, at any given time. If there is a major injury to a fast bowler, there will be a replacement almost straight away,” Ravi Shastri told Cricketnext.