Australia v India: Why Indians are unhappy with Brisbane hotel

An Aussie cricket star has used social media to take aim at the ‘whinging’ Indian team, as they continue to air concerns about their Brisbane hotel.

Security at the Sofitel in Brisbane wait for the Australian and Indian cricket teams to arrive for the 4th test against India at the Gabba on Friday. Picture Lachie Millard

Gabba security have been ordered to be “proactive’’ in protecting an Indian cricket side whose anxiety levels surged again after being rocked by Queensland’s quarantine laws.

Indian players were told on Wednesday there will be no relaxation in Queensland Government restrictions which bans them from getting room service at Brisbane’s Sofitel Hotel during their visit for this week’s fourth Test.

They are also unhappy their rooms will not be serviced daily but they will be done every three or so days while they are playing at the Gabba.

The fallout followed a story in The Times of India where an unnamed player described the hotel as a “prison for all practical purposes” where players were “locked up in our rooms, have to make our own beds, clean our own toilets.’’

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Indian cricketers and family arrive at the Sofitel in Brisbane. Picture: Lachie Millard

Indian coach Ravi Shastri arrives at the Sofitel in Brisbane. Picture: Lachie Millard

They were also keen to use the hotel pool but it has been declared off limits during their Brisbane stay.

The Indian team has asked for its governing body to intervene on the room service issue but the tourists are in a weak bargaining position because they initially agreed that minimal contact with hotel staff outside their bubble would be a sensible move.

International cricket star Alyssa Healy – who is also married to Aussie Test quick Mitchell Starc – took an unsubtle swipe at India’s lockdown conditions.

“The Aus and NZ women’s teams did their quarantine in the same hotel last year. Here’s a shock — we survived …” Healy wrote on Twitter.

“There’s a few Aus players who haven’t been home since July — haven’t heard them whinge yet.”

Cricket is continuing its investigations into the alleged racial sledging of Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj at the SCG on Sunday and Gabba security staff and police have been urged to take swift action if there is any repetition in this week’s Test.

Security staff have been urged to monitor crowd reactions and take action sooner rather than later.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon believes more cricketers may follow India’s lead and call out “disgusting’’ crowd abuse as tension rises ahead of his 100th Test at the Gabba.

The Sydney Test stopped briefly as Siraj and the Indian team complained to the umpires, a gesture deemed groundbreaking.

Security at the Sofitel in Brisbane wait for the Australian and Indian cricket teams to arrive. Picture: Lachie Millard

Asked whether the incident may prompt other cricketers to make on-the-spot callouts of offensive crowd behaviour, Lyon said: “It may well do. It’s entirely up to that player and how they have been affected.

“For me there is no room for any racial abuse at any time. People think they are being funny but it can affect people in different ways.

“There is no room for it at all and I think it is quite disgusting to be honest with you.

“I have been on the other end of it copping abuse, whether it is in England, New Zealand or South Africa and there is room for it. As a player you have to try your best to block it out. There is a lot of security around the ground these days so hopefully they can do their job and if there is anyone doing that they can be removed.’’

Originally published as Australia v India: Why Indians are unhappy with Brisbane hotel