The International Cricket Council (ICC) will review Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur's "bilateral series" comments following the India versus Pakistan clash on October 14. Arthur’s comments created controversy as he felt ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ wasn’t played enough. Also he said that lack of representation of Pakistan fans at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad was also a factor but did not want to use it as an excuse.
"Look, I'd be lying if I said it did [not affect us]," Arthur had said in the post-match press conference. "It didn't seem like an ICC event, to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI event."
At the International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai where cricket was among five sports to be included in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, ICC chairman Greg Barclay did not want to pay heed to Arthur’s comments as he said, “Every event that we have, there's always criticisms from various quarters."
"Things that perhaps we'll take away and try to work on, try to do better… so this event's only [at] the start. Let's see how the whole thing plays out and we'll go away and we'll review what could change, what we can do better, how we can improve World Cups and the general offering around cricket.
"We will just take it as it plays out, get to the end of the event. I'm satisfied that it will still be an outstanding World Cup."
The high-octane clash between the arch-rivals was watched by a record crowd. During the match, fans chanted slogans to irk Pakistan players. As India were nearing the 192-run target, fans were singing Vande Mataram as well. The videos went viral on the internet.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is being criticised for lack of management considering ticket sales. The online ticketing system has not been upto the mark which has caused confusion among not just local but overseas fans too. The ticket fiasco has been one of the reasons behind low attendance in few games as well.
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