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India are all set to face West Indies in their next white ball challenge, and the side have already reached the Caribbean Islands where they will play three ODIs and five T20Is against the hosts. But, ahead of the series kicking off, the BCCI has spent a hefty Rs 3.5 Crores to fly the India team to the West Indies via a chartered flight, sources told a daily English newspaper.
The source informed the Times of India that the reason for flying the team from Manchester to the Port of Spain — a distance of 7,047 KMs — was not Covid-19, but rather the unavailability of commercial tickets in bulk, which forced the BCCI's hand, "The BCCI spent Rs 3.5 crore on the chartered flight which took Team India from Manchester on Tuesday afternoon to Port of Spain (the capital of Trinidad and Tobago) by 11.30 pm IST.
"The reason a chartered flight was booked for the team was not Covid-19. It's difficult to book so many tickets in a commercial flight-the Indian contingent includes 16 players and members of the support staff, including head coach Rahul Dravid. There are players' wives who have travelled to the Caribbean too," the source said on Wednesday.
The source revealed that the cost of flying the whole team from England to the West Indies would cost Rs 2 Crores in Business Class on a commercial flight and that was a more reasonable option.
"Normally, in a commercial flight, this expense would've been around Rs 2 crore. A business class ticket from Manchester to Port of Spain would be around Rs 2 lakh. A chartered flight is more expensive, but it's a logical option to take. Most top football teams have a charter now," he added.
