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West Indies cricket legend Andy Roberts has strongly criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for allegedly favoring India during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which was hosted in a hybrid model with Pakistan as the official host.
India played all their matches in Dubai after refusing to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns. Roberts, who was part of West Indies’ dominant teams of the 1970s and 80s, accused the ICC of bowing to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), calling the situation “unfair” and a major advantage for India.
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Andy Roberts Calls Out ICC’s Favoritism Towards India
Speaking to Mid-Day, Roberts said:
“Something’s got to give… India can’t get everything. The ICC must say no to India at times. India even had an advantage at last year’s T20 World Cup, where they knew in advance where their semi-final would be played in Guyana. At the Champions Trophy, India did not have to travel at all. How can a team not travel during a tournament?”
The former fast bowler questioned the fairness of the tournament, where other teams had to travel between Pakistan and the UAE while India played all their matches in one venue.
“It is not fair, it’s not cricket. There has to be a level playing field. I know a lot of money comes from India, but cricket ought not to be a one-country sport. It now looks like a one-nation competition, and the playing field is not level.”
“ICC Stands for Indian Cricket Board” – Roberts
Roberts took his criticism further, stating that ICC’s decisions are controlled by India, as the governing body depends heavily on BCCI’s financial power.
“To me, the ICC stands for the Indian Cricket Board. India dictates everything. If tomorrow, India says, ‘Listen, there should be no no-balls and wides,’ take my word, the ICC will find a way to satisfy India.”
Roberts’ remarks came shortly after his former teammate, Sir Vivian Richards, also raised concerns about the way ICC handled the tournament.
“I don’t want to get into the political side of things. But I believe the people who are responsible, in terms of the governing and the ruling of the game—which is the ICC—they’re the ones with the problem. If they are the governing body of cricket, why is that happening?”
Richards, who played a crucial role in West Indies’ World Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979, emphasized that sports should unite people rather than create division.
“I honestly believe one of the things that can bring all of us together, fans and everyone, even enemies, is sports.”
India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Victory
Despite the criticism, India went on to win the Champions Trophy for the third time, defeating New Zealand in the final on March 9 in Dubai. However, the controversy surrounding their refusal to travel to Pakistan has raised serious debates about fairness in international cricket.
With legends like Roberts and Richards speaking out, the ICC’s decision-making and India’s influence over global cricket will likely continue to be a hot topic in the cricketing world.
