'This Tournament Won't Happen Without India': Wasim Jaffer Hits Back At Dubai 'Advantage' Criticism For CT 2025
Wasim Jaffer defends India's choice to play all 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Dubai for political reasons, suggesting multiple venues to avoid controversy.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has hit back at commentary from current and ex-cricketers about India enjoying an ‘advantage’ of playing all their 2025 Champions Trophy matches at the same stadium in Dubai. He said India had the right to not go to Pakistan because of ‘political reasons’ and as the tournament was ‘not going to happen’ without the Men in Blue, the hybrid model was the best possible solution.
South African batter Rassie van der Dussen on Thursday said the Indians ‘definitely’ had an ‘advantage’ because they were playing all their games at the Dubai International Stadium. He said they didn’t have to travel much or adapt to different conditions, unlike the seven other teams who had to play some matches on different grounds in Pakistan. Van der Dussen also said India would be under pressure to make it count.
related stories
“The ICC should have organised one game in Sharjah, one game in Abu Dhabi, and probably allowed them to check into another hotel," Jaffer said about the comment in an interaction with ESPNcricinfo. “Then, probably, this topic wouldn’t have come up. India doesn’t want to go to Pakistan for political reasons and the government’s involvement—every country has that choice."
“What choice do we have then? We want India and Pakistan to play in this tournament, and this tournament isn’t going to happen without India. Just to silence all these things, India should have played in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and should have checked into another hotel here and there just to stop this conversation," Jaffer added.
Van der Dussen wasn’t the first to point this out. Before him, Pakistan captain Aaqib Javed had also said India were better prepared for their clash because of this ‘advantage’.
“[India] are sitting in Dubai for a reason. If they are only in Dubai, you will play on one ground, and you will have an advantage. We didn’t lose because they had an advantage of a hotel or a pitch. For us, it was not a new pitch, nor did they play 10 matches on that pitch before we came."
India will play their last league stage match against New Zealand on Sunday. Pakistan are eliminated from the competition while South Africa can come up against India in a semi-final or the final.
- Location :
- First Published: