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

[First class]

13 hours ago, Tillu said:

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

Cummins didn't say anything wrong and he is not that kind of guy who would criticize something for no reason. Yes, India team has huge and unfair advantage by playing all their games at the same ground . I'm not saying because India beat Pakistan  , India would beat Pakistan at any ground without any doubt, but India will have an edge over other teams just because of this factor . Not a case of level playing field for every team. 

[First class]

13 hours 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. 

 

In that case they should make Pakistan the permanent host. 

[The Dark Horse]

18 minutes ago, New guy said:

Is there a genuine source? This has been called as BS by pak media.

Most of the news is from Indian media so far. Of course Pakistani media will deny it.

[First class]

5 hours ago, Number said:

Doesn't that happen a lot of times in a multi venue tournament that one team has advantage of playing knockout at an already seen venue.

 

Example in 2023

Australia did not play a single match at Eden Gardens before Semis.

NZ didn't play any group games at Wankhede.

 

 

Never happened in any ICC tournament or probably in any sport in any international  tournament  one team staying and playing all its matches at one place. 

[Lord]

2 hours ago, raki05 said:

Dubai also decided venu long before india made it to sf…. Also why icc/pcb dint hosted more stadium in UAE why crying now when things were decided from start. They are all crying as India inspite of having geriatric team still winning. BTW this hypocrite Cummins should have said same thing about wtc , why they host all final their wouldn’t it give undue advantage to sena team. Bloody hypocrites.

 

Dubai is a venue only for India games.

 

WTC Final is same for both teams who make it which is not known beforehand. India didn't even make it this time

 

Just because India can't play there doesnt make it unfair

 

only thing is getting England 3 in a row. We should protest that but it is not the same as this one. 

[Lord]

1 hour ago, nevada said:

Much brouhaha about nothing, since the alternative is India skipping the tournament. India going deep into the tournament brings more revenue, so it's no surprise that favorable treatment is given. This is no different than star player Cummins getting so called favorable treatment with a fat paycheck while most of his team mates get paid less. He should take up social justice cause of equal pay instead of whining about imagined favors to the Indian cricket team. 

 

eh? Cummins gets it because of being a better player which he earned by his hard work. It is same as Bumrah getting more than Avesh Khan.

 

India gets favours not due to being best team but because they bring in money.

[rollingstoned]

5 hours ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

But it was a huge advantage to SENA teams. We can say the same thing, "Dubai was chosen as the venue before the tourney started". Whether Aus made it to the final or if it had been any other SENA team such as Eng, NZ or SA, the venue was in their favor. It was like an Away match for India and a de facto Home venue for SENA countries. But none of the SENA teams had any qualms with it.

They complained even during the WT20 that India is playing all games during the day iirc.

[sage]

Is there any evidence that bccI cares England keep hosting the WTC final? I think it works for all the calendars 

[vvvslaxman]

Nobody asked you to play in Pakistan. You can also use the same reason to have all your matches in Dubai. So take it up with Cricket Australia who sent you to one of the most dangerous country.

[raki05]

2 hours ago, Lord said:

 

Dubai is a venue only for India games.

 

WTC Final is same for both teams who make it which is not known beforehand. India didn't even make it this time

 

Just because India can't play there doesnt make it unfair

 

only thing is getting England 3 in a row. We should protest that but it is not the same as this one. 

Why its not known its been alway top 4 test team if you see top 4 team in test crickets its only India in top 4 rest all are Sena. So definitely its an undue advantage to SENA team. No one ever question that.

[Lord]

2 hours ago, raki05 said:

Why its not known its been alway top 4 test team if you see top 4 team in test crickets its only India in top 4 rest all are Sena. So definitely its an undue advantage to SENA team. No one ever question that.

 

What top 4? Anyone of 9 Test teams can make it to final if they play well.

And India needs to do well in foreign conditions. Though I agree it should be rotated and not always England.

Anyway its whataboutery. Cummins is not obliged to raise issues on our behalf. We should do it. What good is all the money and power if we can't even protest against this?

[raki05]

1 hour ago, Lord said:

 

What top 4? Anyone of 9 Test teams can make it to final if they play well.

And India needs to do well in foreign conditions. Though I agree it should be rotated and not always England.

Anyway its whataboutery. Cummins is not obliged to raise issues on our behalf. We should do it. What good is all the money and power if we can't even protest against this?

When you say what top 4 anyone other than sena playing in eng against sena team gives undue advantage to sena. Here we are exposing hypocrisy of sly dog who choose to spouts nonsense but dint say the same while taking advantage during wtc. I dont care what bcci do/does i am giving opinion on Cummins statement that he shouldnt take holier than though approach. Sau chuhey kha ke billi chaley haj ko,

[bsriharsha]

He's not wrong

 

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/india-accused-of-gaining-undeniable-advantage-from-icc-they-are-at-one-place-one-hotel-know-the-pitch-no-travel-101740465020403.html

[putrevus]

15 hours ago, Lord said:

 

England was decided as venue long before Aus made it to the final

Was Dubai not decided as venue before tournament started.

[Lord]

Just now, putrevus said:

Was Dubai not decided as venue before tournament started.

 

only for India

[Lord]

12 minutes ago, bsriharsha said:

He's not wrong

 

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/india-accused-of-gaining-undeniable-advantage-from-icc-they-are-at-one-place-one-hotel-know-the-pitch-no-travel-101740465020403.html

 

yeah people are just doing whataboutery

[Lord]

34 minutes ago, raki05 said:

When you say what top 4 anyone other than sena playing in eng against sena team gives undue advantage to sena. Here we are exposing hypocrisy of sly dog who choose to spouts nonsense but dint say the same while taking advantage during wtc. I dont care what bcci do/does i am giving opinion on Cummins statement that he shouldnt take holier than though approach. Sau chuhey kha ke billi chaley haj ko,

 

There's no hypocrisy. Cummins is talking about issue affecting his team like our guys should. Duniya ka theka kisi ne nahi liya.

 

if you can't blame BCCI/ ICT raising issue about WTC Final, how can you expect Cummins to do it?

[putrevus]

1 minute ago, Lord said:

 

only for India

everyone knew about it too.

 

What next complain India is in easy group.

[Lord]

Just now, putrevus said:

everyone knew about it too.

 

What next complain India is in easy group.

 

not about knowing. Only India getting one venue is undeniable advantage.

 

WTC Final did not face any one team when venue was decided. Though it should be rotated

[Tillu]

Some news doing the rounds that Cummins didn't actually say this, but he did infact said this. Here's another news source from Yahoo Australia.

 

India's advantage in not having to play in Pakistan

Distinguished commentator and ex-England bowler Jonathan Agnew has lashed the decision to allow India to play its Champions Trophy games outside of Pakistan, calling it a "farce". Due to security concerns, India and Pakistan have an agreement not to play in each other's country at ICC tournaments.

All of India's Champions Trophy games will be staged at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while the other seven teams crisscross Pakistan. Cummins said: "I think it's good in 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."