Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19 next year, a British newspaper has strongly criticized India’s monopoly in cricket.
India’s power and impact on the reputation of the game
The report says that India’s monopoly is badly affecting the reputation of the game. India is using its power to prevent Pakistan from hosting the Champions Trophy final, which is an example of influence in the game that is not found in any other sport in the world.
Question mark over the venue of the final
The newspaper revealed that 2 venues have been selected for the Champions Trophy, but the venue of the final is uncertain. Lahore, where the 1996 World Cup final was held, is preparing to host the final. However, if India reaches the final, it is likely that the match will be shifted to the UAE.
Special concessions on India’s schedule
The British newspaper further revealed that India is always given special concessions in the tournament schedule.
In the 2019 World Cup, India played its first match 8 days after the start of the tournament, while other teams had played several matches.
After the IPL, a gap of 15 days was kept between international matches.
In the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, India’s final group matches were kept at the end to see the run rate.
India’s semi-final in this year’s T20 World Cup was held in Guyana, ignoring group positions.
Difficulties for other teams
The newspaper said that India will only get the opportunity to prepare a squad according to the conditions of one country, while the other 7 teams will have to prepare their squads for the conditions of two different countries.
Conclusion
The British newspaper report has raised questions about India’s monopoly and violation of the rules of the game before the Champions Trophy. It is a matter of concern for both fans and organizers that the transparency of the game is being affected by the influence of one country in cricket.
