- The ongoing ICC-sponsored 50-over Champions Trophy that was earlier scheduled to be held in Pakistan had to be shifted partially to accommodate Team India’s concern about safety in the host nation by allocating the India matches to Dubai. Despite Pakistani Board making fervent appeals to the BCCI and the ICC to reconsider the insistence, Team India’s matches had to be shifted to Dubai to accommodate the concerns raised by the most important entity in the cricketing world. People closely following the fortunes of cricket around the world would have noticed by now how the BCCI literally rules the firmament because of the huge revenue generated in India. Come to think of it, more than 70 percent of the ICC’s revenue originates from India. Accepted blissfully.
PC: Current Affairs – Adda247
- Hence, the BCCI is in a position to dictate terms that cannot be brushed aside just like that. While the other cricket teams were made to travel to Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, apart from playing India in Dubai. Whereas Team India was allotted all their matches to be played in Dubai alone. Prima facie, Team India appears to be in a position of advantage simply because neither they are required to travel to other venues nor worry about the conditions prevalent over there to finalise the playing eleven on the big day. So much so that, Team India’s selection centered around keeping in mind these aspects, knowing fully well that there’s no traveling involved at all. If these are not counted as advantages, then what else is?
PC: Outlook India
- Little wonder, several prominent experts, ex-cricketers, and connoisseurs raised the issue of Team India’s advantage since one team stationed at a particular venue offers huge gain vis-à-vis familiarity of the conditions, playing arena, state of the pitch, and no travelling to boot. The moot point to ponder over here is whether Team India has succeeded in fully utilizing the advantages offered on a platter. The answer must be a definite yes simply because Team India has now qualified to the finals without losing a single match. Even the selection of the team for the trophy was made to suit the pitch conditions where the spinners would come into play. Notably, Team India has opted to play with four frontline spinners against the opposition eleven.
PC: Exchange4media
- Looked from any angle, Team India has benefited with the decision to play their matches in Dubai alone. Call it the power wielded by the BCCI or the ICC being not in a position to offer resistance to the push, Team India has been handed over a palpable advantage to play all their matches in one venue. The question of fair play demands that all the teams should get equal opportunities to ply their skills rather than one team availing seemingly advantageous scheduling. Unfortunately, none of the cricket playing nations will raise the issue questioning the move because of the influence wielded by the BCCI in running the sport. Don’t be surprised if Team India goes the distance to bring home the much-coveted trophy home from a position of advantage.
