The answer is clear and undeniable: Yes. Anyone who denies this is simply not seeing the truth clearly. Even Indian commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has publicly stated that the ICC has shown favouritism towards India. In light of this, it’s difficult to argue otherwise.
Explanation of how and why ICC favours India
In the World Cup group stage, the ICC predetermined the placement of teams in the Super 8 groups. For instance, India was guaranteed a spot as A1, Pakistan as A2, South Africa as D1, and Sri Lanka as D2, regardless of their actual group stage performance.
This meant that even if India finished as a runner-up in their group, they would still be labelled champions and placed in Group 1 in the Super 8 stage. Some argue that every team had a fixed group, but it’s evident that this setup favoured India.
Furthermore, the ICC also pre-decided India’s opponents: Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. While Australia and New Zealand are strong teams, Sri Lanka is considered below average. On the other hand, Group 2 comprised Pakistan, South Africa, England, and West Indies, which was viewed as a tougher group compared to Group 1.
Additionally, the ICC had already set Guyana, known for its spin-friendly pitches, as India’s semifinal venue.
Even if India had finished as group runner-up, they would still have played their semifinal at Guyana. It was evident that these conditions were favourable for India, especially considering their prowess with spin bowling and their observed dominance on such pitches.
Why ICC is doing it?
The primary reason is that the ICC earns a significant portion of its revenue from India. Therefore, if India were eliminated early in a tournament, the ICC’s earnings would be impacted.
Scheduling matches at 8:30 pm BD time, which corresponds to the morning local time in India, is a strategic decision aimed at maximising viewership and revenue.
Night matches are more convenient for Indian audiences, resulting in higher viewership and increased revenue for the ICC.
As for the suggestion that the ICC favours India, it’s important to note that the organisation’s primary motivation is financial gain rather than showing favouritism to any particular team.
While the ICC’s actions may seem to benefit India, they are ultimately driven by the goal of maximising revenue rather than ensuring India’s success in tournaments.
