Playing on same ground gives India huge advantage’: Cummins criticises ICC’s controversial Champions Trophy decision

[Tillu]

The ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 is currently in its group stage, and there hasn’t been any complaints regarding Pakistan’s hosting capabilities. But there was plenty of pre-tournament drama, especially focussed on India’s political relations with Pakistan. Due to political tensions between both countries, Rohit Sharma and Co. didn’t travel to Pakistan and all their matches are being played in Dubai.

 

The ICC’s decision led to criticism from some sections of the cricket fraternity. Many have felt that playing all their matches in the same ground in Dubai gives them a significant advantage.

 

Recently during an interaction with Yahoo Sports Australia, Pat Cummins reacted to the statements given by many experts that playing in Dubai gives India an advantage. “I think it's good that the tournament can go on, but obviously it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong and they've got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there,” he said.

 

Cummins is currently out of action, due to an injury which saw him miss the ongoing tournament.

 

India began their campaign with a convincing six-wicket win vs Bangladesh, in which Shubman Gill got a match-winning unbeaten century. Then, they backed it up with a six-wicket win against arch-rivals Pakistan, which sent them to top spot in Group A. Chasing 242 runs, India cruised to 244/4 in 42.3 overs as Virat Kohli remained unbeaten with a match-winning century (100* off 111 balls). Meanwhile, even Shreyas Iyer contributed with a crucial knock of 56 runs off 67 balls. For Pakistan’s bowling department, Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice.

 

Initially, Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul and Hardik Pandya’s two dismissals saw India restrict Pakistan to 241 in 49.4 overs. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel registered 62 runs off 76 balls.

The hosts stare at an exit sign and need a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals. After the match, even skipper Mohammad Rizwan was visibly disappointed with his side’s performance and accepted that their campaign is over.

 

HindustanTimes

[Gollum]

He is 100% correct. Even if India wins this trophy, there will be a huge asterisk mark. At least should have rotated among Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi.

[Tillu]

By the same logic WTC shouldn't be happening in England all the time. Never seen this guy opening this mouth about the unfair advantage certain teams get. High time the BCCI raises this issue.

[Serpico]

10 minutes ago, Tillu said:

By the same logic WTC shouldn't be happening in England all the time. Never seen this guy opening this mouth about the unfair advantage certain teams get. High time the BCCI raises this issue.

Raises what issue, cummins press conferences? 

[Serpico]

Every team would be feeling same, only Cummins is bold enough talk about it

[Tillu]

6 minutes ago, Serpico said:

Raises what issue, cummins press conferences? 

 

The issue of only England getting to host the WTC final everytime. It messes up our team combination against the SENA teams.

[AuxiliA]

Well he's right. 

[AuxiliA]

24 minutes ago, Tillu said:

By the same logic WTC shouldn't be happening in England all the time. Never seen this guy opening this mouth about the unfair advantage certain teams get. High time the BCCI raises this issue.

 

 

ICC wants a neutral venue so it always hosts the WTC F in England coz it knows that Eng will never qualify for it. 

 

[cowboysfan]

no it doesnt,both pitches have been **** and not suitable for any of our bowlers.

[Tillu]

11 minutes ago, AuxiliA said:

 

 

ICC wants a neutral venue so it always hosts the WTC F in England coz it knows that Eng will never qualify for it. 

 

 

Even if England doesn't qualify it benefits the other SENA teams than the other teams. England and Aussies(The Rednecks of the western world) especially find everything wrong with the BCCI. It's high time somebody shows them the mirror.

[New guy]

1 hour ago, Tillu said:

By the same logic WTC shouldn't be happening in England all the time. Never seen this guy opening this mouth about the unfair advantage certain teams get. High time the BCCI raises this issue.

Also the reason it's happening this way is because tournament is in pakistan which india will never ever visit. 

 

Cummins, ICC all know this for many decades. But they were desperate to give the tournament to Pakistan as hosts.

 

Actions have consequences.

Edited February 24 by New guy

[Serpico]

15 minutes ago, New guy said:

Also the reason it's happening this way is because tournament is in pakistan which india will never ever visit. 

 

Cummins, ICC all know this for many decades. But they were desperate to give the tournament to Pakistan as hosts.

 

Actions have consequences.

They could have still rotated the venues in middle east 

[tapandrun]

not sure in what context it was said but he is right, ind team has advantage as they are playing all their games at 1 venue which has 2 pitches reseved for this event.

if looked at larger picture its splitting the hair- per the original plan there were only 3 venues and still now there are 4 venues and most of the teams are stationed at same place and playing/would have played multiple games on same venue.

 

icc didnt follow/exercise their exclusivity right over stadium for this event, per icc event rule book they need to get full control over the venue by x days which they did nt as pak hosted their tri series and ilt20 was going on.

 

 

 

[New guy]

7 minutes ago, Serpico said:

They could have still rotated the venues in middle east 

Why? Just for the sake of it?

[New guy]

About time these players who criticize is openly are kicked out of IPL. Makes no sense we pay them millions and then put up with this ****. 

Edited February 24 by New guy

[Prabhdeep Singh]

Could you imagine the last 2 WTC finals were in SL, India would have hammered NZ and Aus by innings, at that time Indian Test team was at its peak. There was hardly any noise as to why the WTC final in England.

 

Pakistan was playing at home, what did they do, they were playing in UAE for 10 years so they should be more aware of these conditions than India. It is just not conditions, India way more skilful.
 

India since 2013, India has reached at least semi finals in 10/11 white ball icc tournaments. Whatever the pitch India will reach at least semi finals due to its strength. So saying India has an advantage in UAE is a ‘red herring’, they would have reached knockouts regardless of pitch.

 

Edited February 24 by Prabhdeep Singh

[Gollum]

6 minutes ago, New guy said:

Why? Just for the sake of it?

For the sake of fairness. Otherwise India can win the tournament just by stationing in one venue. Have to reduce any advantage due to familiarity with conditions.....anyway lack of travel fatigue is a big enough advantage for us, no need of extra perks.

 

If Aus or NZ had similar scheduling, we all would be up in arms. 

Edited February 24 by Gollum

[Gollum]

Too much jingoism here. One can criticize WTC scheduling (already Rohit, Gavaskar, BCCI higher ups have spoken about it) and also this. 

[New guy]

7 minutes ago, Gollum said:

For the sake of fairness. Otherwise India can win the tournament just by stationing in one venue. Have to reduce any advantage due to familiarity with conditions.....anyway lack of travel fatigue is a big enough advantage for us, no need of extra perks.

 

If Aus or NZ had similar scheduling, we all would be up in arms. 

Well then don't give hosting rights to a country where you know one major team cannot visit.  It's not fair to india to host a tournament in Pakistan.

[Sean Bradley]

Honestly this is a boring tournament, and as an Indian supporter I hope that we lose and ROKO along with Shami Jadeja etc are shown the exit door.

 

Indian fans are dieing to see new faces in the odi team over these old feces.