‘ICC stands for Indian Cricket Board’: Andy Roberts rips into India’s Champions Trophy run – The Financial Express

West Indies cricket legend Andy Roberts has criticised India’s preferential treatment during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, questioning the fairness of allowing Rohit Sharma’s men to play all their matches in Dubai.
India lifted the Champions Trophy after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final. While the tournament was officially hosted in Pakistan, India played all their matches in Dubai due to the BCCI’s stance that the Indian government had refused permission for the team to travel to Pakistan.
This created an unusual situation where other teams had to travel between Pakistan and Dubai, while India played at a single venue throughout the tournament. While head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma dismissed concerns about any unfair advantage, pacer Mohammed Shami admitted that staying in one venue helped the team.
Roberts, a former West Indies fast bowler, slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for allegedly bowing to India’s demands.
“Something’s got to give… India can’t get everything. The ICC must say no to India at times. India even had an advantage at last year’s T20 World Cup, where they knew in advance where their semi-final would be played,” Roberts told Mid-Day.
He questioned how a team could play an entire tournament without traveling, saying, “It is not fair, it’s not cricket. There has to be a level playing field. I know a lot of money comes from India, but cricket ought not to be a one-country sport.”
Taking his criticism further, Roberts accused the ICC of being controlled by India, saying that the governing body could even alter cricket rules to favor India if requested.
“To me, the ICC stands for the Indian Cricket Board. India dictates everything. If tomorrow, India says, ‘Listen, there should be no no-balls and wides,’ take my word, the ICC will find a way to satisfy India,” Roberts remarked.
Despite the criticism, Rohit Sharma defended India’s position, stating that his team also had to adapt to Dubai’s conditions like any other side. “It’s not like we know what’s going to happen on these pitches. It’s not our home either. We don’t play many matches here, so it’s new for us as well,” Rohit said before India’s semi-final against Australia.
The debate over India’s perceived advantages in global tournaments continues, with Roberts’ comments adding to the growing discussion over the ICC’s decision-making and fairness in cricket.
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