India slammed for one-venue ‘farce’ in Champions Trophy
MNP – Former cricketers and pundits have slammed India’s “undeniable” advantage of playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, while the other seven teams have to shuttle between three venues in Pakistan, and the UAE.
India refused to travel to hosts Pakistan for the 50-over tournament, because of security concerns and political tensions, and are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
A stand-off between the rivals lasted for more than a month, leaving plans for the tournament in jeopardy until the Pakistan board finally agreed a compromise with the International Cricket Council.
The deal means Pakistan will play at a neutral venue in any ICC tournament hosted by India until 2027.
The decision was reached after Jay Shah – secretary of the powerful BCCI – took over as ICC chairman in December at the headquarters of the sports’ governing body in Dubai.
“I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment,” former England cricketer and popular broadcaster Jonathan Agnew told ABC Sport.
“This is wrong. If you’re going to play an international tournament you can’t pick and choose where you play and where you’re not going to play.
“I don’t see how long this can carry on for? It makes a farce of these tournaments.”
The playing and pitch conditions in Dubai and the venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – are drastically different.
