Sourav Ganguly countered criticism regarding India’s matches being held in Dubai instead of Pakistan, suggesting that India’s performance would have benefitted from the better pitches in Pakistan. This response comes amidst comments from Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, who argued that playing in Dubai gave India an advantage. India is set to face Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals next.
India has recently received considerable criticism regarding their decision to host all matches of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, following India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan. Former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton expressed that this arrangement provided India with an unfair advantage. Rassie van der Dussen, a South African player, echoed this sentiment, contributing to the ongoing debate surrounding the tournament’s logistics.
In response to the critiques, Sourav Ganguly, a former Indian captain, articulated his viewpoint during a Cricket Association of Bengal event in Kolkata. He asserted that India could have potentially achieved higher scores if they had played their matches on the superior pitches available in Pakistan. “The pitches in Pakistan are much better. India would’ve scored more runs there,” Ganguly noted.
Looking ahead, India is set to face Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy on March 4. Should they secure a victory, they could potentially compete against either South Africa or England in the final, scheduled for March 9, which will also take place in Dubai.
Sourav Ganguly’s response to criticisms about India playing in Dubai highlights the ongoing debate regarding the fairness of the tournament’s venue. His assertion that conditions in Pakistan would have favored higher Indian scores underscores the significance of pitch quality in cricket. As India prepares for the crucial semi-final match against Australia, the discussions surrounding venue logistics remain a topic of interest for analysts and fans alike.
Original Source: www.sportingnews.com
