BCCI should have its own aircraft: Kapil Dev

Player fatigue because of hectic flight schedules may soon be a thing of the past if the Indian cricket board (BCCI) heeds 1983-World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev's suggestion, reports Times of India.

"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 told TOI.

He added: "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," Kapil said while adding that it will also generate 20-odd jobs if BCCI buys a plane for 30-40 passengers.

The average price of an Airbus A318 plane, with a capacity of just over 100, will cost around Rs 500 crore (with additional operating costs), which the board can easily afford.

Interestingly, Kapil had shared his idea with BCCI bigwigs three years ago and even told them to establish guest houses in big cities to accommodate cricketers, instead of paying hotel bills. But the board got entangled in controversies and now there may be a fear of misuse if a step like buying an aircraft is taken.