BCCI President Roger Binny an ICC chief Jay Shah, July 19, 2023. — X@JayShah
Former West Indies pacer Andy Roberts has slammed the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) for allegedly yielding to the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) through the not too long ago concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The match, initially designated to be hosted by Pakistan, was performed in a hybrid mannequin, with Dubai internet hosting all of India’s matches.
The association was sanctioned throughout an ICC board assembly, approving a coverage for the 2024-2027 cycle that mandates shifting any India-Pakistan matches initially scheduled in Pakistan to a impartial venue.
Throughout a current interview, Roberts accused the ICC of giving India an unfair benefit in each the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup 2024, the place India was allegedly pre-informed about their semi-final fixture in opposition to England in Guyana.
“Something’s got to give… India can’t get everything. The ICC must say no to India at times. India even had an advantage at last year’s T20 World Cup, where they knew in advance where their semi-final would be played,” Roberts mentioned.
“At the Champions Trophy, India did not have to travel at all. How can a team not travel during a tournament?” he questioned.
The 74-year-old further claimed that the BCCI holds significant influence over the ICC, dictating major decisions in international cricket.
“To me, the ICC stands for the Indian Cricket Board. India dictates everything. If tomorrow, India says, ‘Listen, there should be no no-balls and wides,’ take my word, the ICC will find a way to satisfy India,” he remarked.
Former England captain Michael Atherton additionally echoed comparable considerations, highlighting India’s unique scheduling in Dubai as an undue benefit.
“What about the advantage India has in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai, which seems to me to be hard to quantify but an undeniable advantage? They’re playing at just one venue,” Atherton mentioned.
“They don’t have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do,” he added.
It’s pertinent to say that India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title by defeating New Zealand by 4 wickets on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
This marked India’s third Champions Trophy triumph, having beforehand received in 2002 and 2013.
Chasing a goal of 252, the 2013 champions comfortably reached the full with six wickets in hand and 6 balls to spare.
