Former cricketers say that the ‘hybrid model’ for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy will give India an unfair advantage, as it will play all its matches at the same venue.
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has termed India’s decision not to visit Pakistan as regrettable.
The tournament, to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, had been mired in controversy when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan, citing political and security concerns.
After several weeks of deadlock, it was agreed on a hybrid model that India would play all its matches in Dubai, including the semi-finals and final if they qualify.
The announcement of the final schedule was delayed due to India’s reluctance to visit Pakistan for the event.
The new arrangement will bring numerous benefits to India, with other teams travelling between three venues in Pakistan and Dubai, while the Indian team will play all its matches at a single venue.
The Indian team will also know in advance the venue of its semi-final match.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Saleem Altaf considers this a huge advantage for India.
Altaf Hussain told Dawn that India is the only team that knows where it will play the semi-final and final, while other teams will know only after the group stages are completed.
India will also have the advantage of familiarity with the Dubai pitch in both the knockout matches, and can prepare accordingly.
On the other hand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand will have to prepare teams to play in two countries with different conditions and pitches.
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Intikhab Alam says that like other teams, India will not travel from one venue to another.
Intikhab Alam, who was the manager of the Pakistan team during its successful campaigns in the 1992 ODI World Cup and 2009 T20 World Cup, says that this will not only provide similar pitches and cricketing atmosphere at the same venue, but will also save on travel logistics, saying that it is not ‘fair’ to other teams.
Pakistan will get similar arrangements for the T20 World Cup scheduled for India and Sri Lanka in 2026, where they will play all their matches, including the knockout matches, in Sri Lanka.
However, this is not the first time that the tournament schedule has been designed to benefit India, the ‘financial powerhouse’ of world cricket.
In last year’s T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, which India won, it was a foregone conclusion that they would play their semi-final in Guyana, regardless of their position in the table.
In the 2019 ODI World Cup, India began their campaign after all other teams had played their first matches. They played their last group match in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, as well as the 2023 ODI World Cup, giving them the advantage of knowing the scenario if they were to finish qualifying.
India will enjoy a similar schedule in next month’s Champions Trophy, with a group match against New Zealand on March 2, three days after the group stage matches of Pakistan and Bangladesh conclude.
‘Hybrid model’ for ICC Champions Trophy will give India an unfair advantage, former cricketers say
Former cricketers say that the ‘hybrid model’ for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy will give India an unfair advantage, as it will play all its matches at the same venue.
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has termed India’s decision not to visit Pakistan as regrettable.
The tournament, to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, had been mired in controversy when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan, citing political and security concerns.
After several weeks of deadlock, it was agreed on a hybrid model that India would play all its matches in Dubai, including the semi-finals and final if they qualify.
The announcement of the final schedule was delayed due to India’s reluctance to visit Pakistan for the event.
The new arrangement will bring numerous benefits to India, with other teams travelling between three venues in Pakistan and Dubai, while the Indian team will play all its matches at a single venue.
The Indian team will also know in advance the venue of its semi-final match.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Saleem Altaf considers this a huge advantage for India.
Altaf Hussain told Dawn that India is the only team that knows where it will play the semi-final and final, while other teams will know only after the group stages are completed.
India will also have the advantage of familiarity with the Dubai pitch in both the knockout matches, and can prepare accordingly.
On the other hand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand will have to prepare teams to play in two countries with different conditions and pitches.
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Intikhab Alam says that like other teams, India will not travel from one venue to another.
Intikhab Alam, who was the manager of the Pakistan team during its successful campaigns in the 1992 ODI World Cup and 2009 T20 World Cup, says that this will not only provide similar pitches and cricketing atmosphere at the same venue, but will also save on travel logistics, saying that it is not ‘fair’ to other teams.
Pakistan will get similar arrangements for the T20 World Cup scheduled for India and Sri Lanka in 2026, where they will play all their matches, including the knockout matches, in Sri Lanka.
However, this is not the first time that the tournament schedule has been designed to benefit India, the ‘financial powerhouse’ of world cricket.
In last year’s T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, which India won, it was a foregone conclusion that they would play their semi-final in Guyana, regardless of their position in the table.
In the 2019 ODI World Cup, India began their campaign after all other teams had played their first matches. They played their last group match in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, as well as the 2023 ODI World Cup, giving them the advantage of knowing the scenario if they were to finish qualifying.
India will enjoy a similar schedule in next month’s Champions Trophy, with a group match against New Zealand on March 2, three days after the group stage matches of Pakistan and Bangladesh conclude.
