Former West Indies pacer Andy Roberts has slammed the Global Cricket Council (ICC) for allegedly turnover to the Board of Regulate for Cricket in Bharat (BCCI) throughout the just lately concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The match, initially designated to be hosted via Pakistan, was once performed in a hybrid fashion, with Dubai internet hosting all of Bharat’s suits.
The association was once sanctioned throughout an ICC board assembly, approving a coverage for the 2024-2027 cycle that mandates moving any Bharat-Pakistan suits initially scheduled in Pakistan to a impartial venue.
All through a contemporary interview, Roberts accused the ICC of giving Bharat an unfair benefit in each the Champions Trophy and the T20 International Cup 2024, the place Bharat was once allegedly pre-informed about their semi-final fixture towards 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.
“On the Champions Trophy, Bharat didn’t must progress in any respect. How can a staff no longer progress throughout a match?” he wondered.
The 74-year-old additional claimed that the BCCI holds vital affect over the ICC, dictating main choices in world 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 related considerations, highlighting Bharat’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 Bharat clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 identify via defeating Pristine Zealand via 4 wickets on the Dubai Global Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
This marked Bharat’s 3rd Champions Trophy triumph, having prior to now received in 2002 and 2013.
Chasing a goal of 252, the 2013 champions conveniently reached the full with six wickets in hand and 6 balls to extra.
