BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla recently addressed reports that four Australian players suffered from food poisoning during their three-match unofficial ODI series against India A in Kanpur. He clarified that the incident might not have been caused by the food provided during the tour.
Shukla explained that the meals were arranged by a reputed hotel and noted that if the food had been the issue, Indian players would have also been affected, which was not the case. Australian pacer Henry Thornton was among those reportedly hospitalized due to the illness.
Speaking to the media about the situation, Rajeev Shukla said (via Times of India):
“If there had been an issue with the food, all players, including the Indian players, would have fallen sick. It must have been something else. They are being fed food from one of the finest hotels, Hotel Landmark; the food is good, and everyone is eating the same. Since a few players have fallen ill, they may have contracted an infection, and we are handling it.”
Expanding on the logistical difficulties arising from the limited availability of five-star hotels in Kanpur, Shukla commented:
“The issue arises because there aren’t many hotels. We need 300 rooms in a five-star hotel, and that’s not available. There is no international airport in the area that operates 24/7. Had better arrangements been in place, they would have gained an advantage.”
India A Defeat Australia A By Two Wickets To Seal Three-Match Series Win
India A registered a thrilling two-wicket victory over Australia A in the decisive third unofficial ODI, clinching the three-match series 2-1. After opting to bat first, the visitors posted 316 runs before being bowled out in 49.1 overs. Captain Jack Edwards led from the front with a fluent 89 off 74 balls, while Liam Scott (73 off 64) and Cooper Connolly (64 off 49) contributed valuable half-centuries.
For the hosts, pacers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana starred with three wickets each. In response, opener Prabhsimran Singh powered India A’s chase with a blistering 102 off just 62 balls. Riyan Parag and skipper Shreyas Iyer also made key contributions, scoring 62 runs apiece from 55 and 58 deliveries, respectively.
India A reached the target in 46 overs to seal the series. Among the Australian bowlers, spinner Tanveer Sangha stood out with figures of 4 for 72 in his 10-over spell.
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