India Would’ve Scored More in Pak: Ganguly on India’s CT Venue Row
The ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been marred by controversy, with India being accused of getting an “undeniable advantage” by playing all their matches at a single venue in Dubai. However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly has fired back at the criticism, stating that the team would have scored more runs had they played in Pakistan.
Ganguly’s comment came in response to criticism from English commentator Nasser Hussain and former England cricketer Michael Atherton, who had questioned the fairness of India playing all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Ganguly, who is the current President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was quick to defend the decision, saying that the team would have performed even better if they had played in Pakistan.
“The pitches in Pakistan are much better,” Ganguly said in an interview. “I think India would have scored more runs if we had played in Pakistan. But we didn’t have a choice, and we will take whatever advantage we can get.”
Ganguly’s comment is likely to spark a fresh debate about the fairness of the tournament, with many arguing that India’s advantage is unfair and could give them an unfair edge in the competition. However, Ganguly’s point is that the pitches in Pakistan are generally considered to be better than those in Dubai, and that India would have been well-suited to play on those surfaces.
The debate about the venue for the Champions Trophy has been ongoing for some time, with many teams and fans expressing concerns about the fairness of the competition. The BCCI had initially wanted to host the tournament in India, but the ICC ultimately decided to award the hosting rights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to concerns about the security situation in India.
However, Ganguly has defended the decision, saying that the UAE is a neutral venue and that India has not been given any special treatment. “We didn’t ask for Dubai as the venue,” he said. “The ICC chose Dubai as the venue, and we are happy to play there. We didn’t get any special advantage, and we will take whatever advantage we can get.”
Ganguly’s comments are likely to be seen as a shot across the bow for those who have criticized India’s decision to play all their matches in Dubai. While some may argue that India has an unfair advantage, Ganguly’s point is that the team would have performed even better if they had played in Pakistan.
India will face Australia in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday, and will be looking to make it to the final for the first time since 2013. The team has been boosted by the return of star players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and will be hoping to make the most of their advantage in Dubai.
In conclusion, Ganguly’s comment is likely to spark a fresh debate about the fairness of the Champions Trophy, but it is clear that the team is focused on making the most of their advantage in Dubai. While some may argue that India has an unfair advantage, Ganguly’s point is that the team would have performed even better if they had played in Pakistan.
