Rashid Latif Defends BCCI Amidst Dubai Scheduling Controversy

Rashid Latif, former Pakistan captain, defends the BCCI against criticism from former England cricketers regarding match scheduling at Dubai International Stadium. He agrees on a scheduling blunder by ICC but emphasizes shared accountability among all stakeholders and calls for an end to complaints about India’s venue advantage. Meanwhile, India advances to the Champions Trophy 2025 final.

Rashid Latif, the former captain of Pakistan, has publicly defended the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in light of criticism from former English cricketers regarding the scheduling of matches at the Dubai International Stadium. Critics, including Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, questioned why India was perceived to have an advantage with all their matches at one venue.

While Latif acknowledged that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other stakeholders made a scheduling error, he emphasized that blame should not rest solely on the Indian cricket board. During his YouTube show, “Caught Behind,” he remarked, “If we (Pakistan) are talking about India having an advantage, you get it. But why are former England cricketers whining about it now? They are trying to be overly involved in someone else’s affairs.”

Latif elaborated that if the match schedule had been followed properly, the semifinal lineup could have been decided more favorably. He pointed out a missed opportunity where India could have played a day earlier than New Zealand. He criticized the cricket boards’ representatives for not checking the schedule adequately, stating, “You should not go to the ICC meeting to have a good time. Do your job properly.”

Further, he mentioned that the complaints from Pakistan regarding venue advantages stem from jealousy, but he urged the international cricket community not to dwell on the issue since all parties had previously agreed to the schedule. Latif made it clear that, regardless of perceptions about India benefiting from the arrangement, the blame ultimately falls on the organizations responsible for scheduling.

India is progressing to the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 having won all four of their matches at the Dubai venue, while New Zealand also has experience playing in Dubai.

In conclusion, Rashid Latif’s defense of the BCCI highlights the complexities surrounding the scheduling of cricket matches and the shared responsibility of all cricketing authorities. While acknowledging scheduling errors, he refutes claims of undue advantage for India and argues that such complaints reflect jealousy rather than legitimate issues. The focus now shifts toward the impending final match, where both India and New Zealand will compete at the Dubai International Stadium.

Original Source: www.livemint.com