HEADLINE: Andy Roberts: ICC stands for Indian Cricket Board

West Indies cricket legend Andy Roberts has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for allowing India to play all their matches in Dubai during the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Roberts’s remarks come in the wake of similar concerns raised by another cricketing icon, Vivian Richards, who had earlier questioned the ICC’s decision to schedule all of India’s matches in Dubai.

Expressing his frustration, Roberts accused the governing body of being incapable of standing up to the BCCI, which he believes has undue influence over international cricket.

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Does anyone do basic research or not? The tussle over India's participation in CT went on for two months last 2024. India was not willing to tour. So Pakistan had the option to replace India with Srilanka. But other boards were not willing to do as sponsors were ready to pull out. Some even thought of suing PCB. Even if they had played in Pakistan they would have played at the same venue Lahore as per PCB as it is closer to border. Less risky. But given the cross border terrorism India didn't want to take a chance. So they settled on hosting in Dubai last december. So people are aware of this schedule for 3 months. If India had got eliminated nobody would be crying now. Now everyone is acting surprised. For the record South Africa did not travel at all during 2009 CT. During 2023 world cup India played in 10 different cities and travelled the most. This time the host is PCB. Not BCCI. Keep that in mind. They decide the schedule.

Last ODI world Cup, the USA played all their match in the USA except for their quarter final match. No one had a problem with that, if India had gone to Pakistan and people had gotten hurt then the same critics now would have been saying, they should have known better.

In reply to dayne

It is shocking to see past superstars jumping on the bandwagon without doing basic research.

Oh oh Sir yuh got this one wrong,check tings before yuh type.
Leave writing fuh de big boys and Chrissy.

In reply to jnaveen

What's shocking is that the India has enough influence to have the finals held outside of the host country.

That's shockingly advantageous, don't you think?

In reply to Gun_Play

Why didn't your cricket board and all the cricket boards say No. Why didn't the hosts PCB say no? Give me the answer. ECB said "Tournament without a India is not an option". BCCI is not the host. PCB is the host. I never wanted India to play CT. I would have been happy not playing this tournament. But greedy cricket boards including your own cricket boards want India. So you guys are barking at the wrong tree.

Lots of IFs being used to justify the shenanigans

The choice was simple
Either replace India if they refused to travel
Or decide Pakistan not safe and replace the host country


What took place was a joke, and certainly not cricket

In reply to Halliwell

Well PCB wanted to host and also wanted India as well. THey took 70 million dollar to renovate their grounds and asked for more. Too much corruption. They did a shoddy work of renovation. Two matches totally washed out despite the rain stopped. In a way i am glad India didn't play there. No roof. No drainage system. Poor crowd. They totally blew 70 million dollar for doing nothing. THey PCB admin refused to share how the money was used. You know there is corruption. Bottomline is Pakistan should never host another ICC tournamnt. Just remember the deal was Pakistan will not visit India going forward. So they will play on the same ground in some other country all their matches. Let us see whether Roberts will raise his voice then.

In reply to Halliwell



That's why I didn't watch a single game of that stupid tournament.

BTW, how long this year will international cricket be in a state of suspension until that match fixing Indian domestic lickit league is completed?

Some interesting opinions on this topic here, anti India in the majority. I thought all participants played good cricket but Pakistan, playing at home in their own tournament, favored by many experts to be in the semi finals at least, disappointed big time. India won, cricket is played on the field- talk about travelling etc is meaningless, nowadays players travel to multiple tournaments in a few days. Maybe if u get in a few hours before the game that would be cause for concern.
I remembered Pakistan playing West Indies in Dubai a few years back- why was that and did it advantage either side?

In reply to jacksparrow

The team that give the least amount of excuses is New zealand. Not surprisingly they ended up in the final. England played both their games at the same venue. Yet lost both. Were the first one to whine about India's schedule something everyone knew about 3 months back.

In reply to Halliwell

So you are agreeing with Roberts that ICC screwed up?

In reply to jnaveen

I don't understand why people are blaming India, their policy toward Pakistan is known by all for a long time, it appears to me many can't accept the fact that India is a really good cricket team,
in the last 3 ICC competition have lost 1one game 2023 world cup last in the final played unbeaten t20 and champions trophy, passion for the game is immeasurable, the talent too much to account
for

In reply to bird

Roberts just jumped on the English bandwagon who did not play a single game in Dubai. THey didn't travel as well. They played on the same ground back to back matches. They lost fair and square. Seeing the comments of Roberts one can easily say he didn't have a clue about how this schedule was created.

In 1996 World Cup...West Indies and Australia refused to play in Sri Lanka.....due to sectarian violence.....both team forfeited their points...matches were not shifted..

Cut to 2025, India refused to travel to Pakistan...their entire matches were held in Dubai...

Hopefully, in future, if any other team has issues travelling to or playing in another country...... similar, accommodation would be made by ICC....

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Agreed! Indian Cricket Council!
1

In reply to Onionman0

Bad example. For one thing India will literally miss all the matches since all the matches were supposed to be held in Pakistan. In 1996 If West Indies doesn't play two matches there was no real financial loss. Cricket has evolved. They rely on sponsors. If India doesn't play sponsors were going to pull out. Whole tournament will be a farce with no money. Potentially PCB will be sued. To avoid all the hassles they came to this solution. THey haven't travelled to Pakistan for 17 years. What makes you think they will travel now. You have no clue about cross border terrorism. India is directly impacted by it. HOw did Srilanka sectarian violence impacted you?

In reply to jacksparrow


That is an inaccurate statement. Naive at best

In reply to imusic

How so? Elaborate if u contradicting otherwise its just another opinion

Question for those trying to defend the Indefensible.
What happened when Poms refused to play an assigned game in Zimbabwe years ago? OK, you'll gonna say this is about security so pray tell.

Why can not a single Pakistani play in the IPL, security too?

Off ICC says no govt meddling in cricket why did a British born Muslim of Pakistani heritage face grave difficulty traveling with his team to India, security reasons?

Ah well! Why then although The IPL has severely disrupted bilateral series in all formats not a single Indian can play in any other franchise?

Andy barely scratch surface and men rushing where angels dread to cross.

In reply to Brerzerk

Preach bro.

Idiots here don't seem to have critical thinking skill-sets.

One team played all their games in one venue.
No traveling hiccups.
No jet-lag
No training facilities issues.
No acclimatization issues.
Tjhis s just the Championship series.

What about the last T20 World cup.
All games played at same time.
Scheduled semi-finals ground.
2rd umpire blatantly missing a boundary touching catch in final over.
Most controversial umpires decisions go their way

Now Hindia have a stranglehold that far surpassed Hingland of old.

In reply to Brerzerk

You sound like a pakistan fan. Let me explain anyway even though I suppose you probably know the answer. Post Mumbai terror attack all pakistanis were banned. This is an easily available fact. THe visa delays are mostly technical. Nothing to do with them being Muslim. Moeen Ali, Imran Tahir, Azhar Mahmood, SIkander Raza all played for IPL teams. They don't want Indians to play other leagues because it will impact their international commitments and also they don't want to hurt their own leagues by allowing their superstars to play in other leagues. Heck I want our fringe players to play in other leagues too. But BCCI is not allowing. NOt anyone can do. May be even players want to play to get used to different conditions something other players have advantage over. Nothing can be blamed on players or team.

How does this impact West INdian cricket. If anything West Indies was the biggest beneficiary of IPL. They made a career out of it. India plays with West INdies as often as they could compared to say Australia, New Zealand.

In reply to TanteMerle

wow. This schedule was drawn with the consent of all cricket boards, including your own cricket board, WICB. If you are 3 months late in educating yourself about the schedule, others are not idiots. Why do you care? You have better things to worry about. West Indies did not go past the second round in World T20, 2022. DId not play in the World Cup in 2023. Did not play CT 2025. But you are worried about how evil India is for playing at the same venue, which is something decided by PCB, not by BCCI. Great.

You guys need an economics lesson to understand this kind of scheduling. Sponsors will give you only half the money if you host on certain days. India matches generate more money.IT eventually goes to the coffers of WICB. Your bankrupt cricket board is the beneficiary. IT is not done to benefit the Indian team.

Man I don't care if India win or lose, the team I back in delight and cuss is always West Indies, the rest I enjoy, any level of cricket for that matter. it just seems that the India critique is quite heavy, when they win or lose but unfortunately for the critics here, India Team, BCCI, IPL, ICC don't really give a damn.
I had SA for this tournament but once again they choked, unable to deliver on the field
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