Australia captain Pat Cummins slammed Australian publication for fabricating his quote on India having advantage of playing all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matche sin Dubai. Cummins denied saying that India can't pick and choose where they play ICC tournaments.
"You can't pick and choose where you play and where you're not going to play ... It makes a farce of these tournaments," the quote from Code Cricket said.
"I have definitely never said this," replied Cummins.
The post has been deleted by the publication as Cummins' post on X went viral on social media.
Originally, it was not Cummins who criticised India but an English cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew.
Cummins' actual quote
However, Cummins had said that India have an 'obvious benefit' as they are playing all their matches of the mega tournament in Dubai.
"I think it's good in that the tournament can go on, but obviously, it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong, and they've got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there," the Australian Test captain was quoted as saying by Yahoo Australia.
No Aussie trio in Champions Trophy
Earlier, Cummins was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 due to an ankle injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. In Cummins' absence, Steve Smith is captaining Australia. Also, Josh Hazlewood was injured and Mitchell Starc pulled out of the tournament.
Australia start with a win
In the pace trio's absence, Australia conceded 351/8 against England in their campaign opener at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on February 22. However, despite a big target, Australia chased it down with five wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare as Josh Inglis remained unbeaten for 86-ball 120.
Australia will now take on South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 25.