India’s ‘manoeuvered’ rise to CT final

Team India is on the verge of playing yet another final of a high-profile cricket tournament, set to be contested in Dubai on Sunday!

Of course, a series of massive celebrations have already begun for the Indian fans in anticipation of a title win, both in their homeland as well as in Dubai, where they have filled up the imposing Dubai Cricket Stadium during each of their team’s four victories in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

However, in their heart of hearts, the Indian players and fans would know well how the eight-nation tournament been ‘manoeuvered’ to suit their team, like many such tournaments in the past, and how Team India have been ushered from the back door to take centre-stage.

On the field, the game’s electrifying atmosphere, the raining sixes and fours, the dramatic fall of wickets and some great catches have kept the Indian players and fans almost captive – both physically and socially – but not mentally.

In the dubious backdrop of the ‘doctored’ Champions Trophy tournament, their celebrations have appeared superficial. The pompous display of chest thumping, the loud cheers, the fireworks, the funky fan-fashion, colourful wigs, painted faces, elaborate masks and dresses ring hollow when you know your team has not ‘earned’ its success; rather it has been presented with it on a platter.

The tailor-made settings provided to them in Dubai are nothing new for the Indian team or the cash-rich Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), which for long have hijacked this beautiful game by the dint of its wealth, thus distorting its norms and its values, not the least its ‘glorious uncertainties’.

Regretfully, the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been a ‘partner in crime’ for being too eager to toe the BCCI’s line and for unashamedly providing it support and certification to practice its unfair, brow-beating tactics of dominating the game.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has, indeed, suffered dearly owing to India’s ridiculous attitude and antics. From the outset, India refused to tour Pakistan, which is hosting the mega event, insisting on a hybrid model while citing security reasons and other flimsy excuses to stay away, and choosing to play all its matches in Dubai.

That has caused innumerous travel and logistic problems for the other competing teams like Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have, otherwise, had no qualms about touring Pakistan for the mega event and have enjoyed their stay and the matches here.

Besides, the organisers, broadcasters and fans have also been deeply disturbed by India’s irrational stance to play its matches in Dubai and have criticised it in no uncertain terms.

The current set of players from most teams, however, have shied away from venting their frustration on this ‘preferential treatment’ of the Indian team – thanks to their lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) contracts that the do not wish to jeopardise. But former players such as Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan, Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson, Jonathan Agnew and a few others have openly voiced their displeasure at the undeniable one-venue advantage being handed to India in the event, which offers zero travelling and unchanged playing conditions.

Following their rushed visits to Dubai for the India matches, and a quick return to Lahore for the all-important semifinal, both New Zealand and South Africa have been hardest hit by the travel vagaries of the Champions Trophy 2025.

The respective captains of the two sides, Mitchell Santner and Temba Bavuma, have complained about the crazy 18-hour travel ordeal endured by their teams that have affected their teams’ preparations for the key clash at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

It was pretty much a similar scenario in the last T20 World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States and the West Indies, where several teams including Sri Lanka, South Africa and Namibia had filed formal complaints with the ICC about their remotely located hotels and tough travel calendars compared to Team India’s conveniently placed accommodations and unchanged venues.

The ill-feeling and growing unrest among teams, against the undue favours granted to Team India by the ICC, as well as the BCCI’s desperate desire to control the game, could well result in a nasty fallout in world cricket pretty soon, while the formation of a bloc of disgruntled teams or players could also not be ruled out.