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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been surrounded by ongoing discussions about India allegedly enjoying an undue advantage in the tournament. While the Indian team has brushed aside such claims, their journey to the final has only intensified the debate. Now, former cricketer and MLB trialist Ian Pont has strongly criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing it of letting India dictate the logistics of the competition.
Ian Pont’s Strong Allegations Against ICC
Ian Leslie Pont, a former English cricketer and renowned T20 coach, is known for his expertise in fast bowling and his brief stint in baseball, where he had tryouts with Major League Baseball teams like the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies in 1986 and 1987. Now, he has turned his attention to the cricketing world’s latest controversy.
Taking to social media platform X, Pont openly questioned the ICC’s handling of the tournament, stating:
“To maintain the integrity of the @ICC and any future global tournaments, we cannot have any one single team completely dictating the logistics of the competition, as has happened in ChampionsTrophy2025. We either play the game with fair rules for all - or we don’t bother.”
His remarks have sparked discussions among fans and experts, further fueling the ongoing narrative around India’s supposed home-like advantage in Dubai.
Gautam Gambhir Responds to Criticism
A day after Indian captain Rohit Sharma dismissed any claims of undue advantage, head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly defended the team. Even when not directly questioned about it, Gambhir took the opportunity to address the controversy, making it clear that India had no special privileges.
“There’s a lot of debate about the undue advantage and all that. What undue advantage? We haven’t practiced here even for a day. We’re practicing at the ICC Academy. And the conditions there and here are 180 degrees different. If you look at the wickets there and here, the difference is between the ground and the sky. Some people are just perpetual cribbers, man. They’ve got to grow up,” Gambhir said.
His sharp remarks reflect the Indian team’s frustration with the ongoing allegations.
Other Voices in the Debate
While some, like Australian captain Steve Smith, have refused to buy into the argument of India having an advantage, other former cricketers such as England’s Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain have raised concerns over the fairness of the tournament’s logistics.
New Zealand, India’s final opponents, have largely downplayed the issue despite having played in Dubai earlier. However, questions still linger regarding the scheduling and venue choices that have kept India in Dubai throughout the tournament.
Did India Plan for Spinner-Friendly Conditions?
One of the criticisms directed at India is their team selection, particularly their decision to field multiple spin options. When asked whether India had pre-planned their squad knowing Dubai would favor spin bowling, Gambhir dismissed the suggestion outright.
“First of all, this is as neutral a venue for us as it is for any other team. We have not played here. I don’t remember which tournament we played in this stadium last. And in fact, we didn’t plan anything like that. The plan was that if you pick two frontline spinners in the 15-man squad, then even if we played in Pakistan or anywhere, we would have picked two frontline spinners because it was a competition on the subcontinent.”
Gambhir further clarified that India didn’t always play multiple spinners, adjusting their strategy based on match conditions.
As India heads into the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, the controversy over their supposed advantage remains a major talking point. With voices like Ian Pont openly criticizing the ICC and former cricketers offering mixed opinions, the debate over fairness in global tournaments is unlikely to end anytime soon.
Whether India’s run in Dubai was truly beneficial or just a matter of circumstance, the only thing certain is that the final on March 9 will have the world watching closely.
