Rajdeep Sardesai’s latest rant over the Champions Trophy scheduling is yet another example of his habitual anti-India bias and desperate attempt to create controversy where none exists. His complaint about India’s matches being scheduled in one venue while other teams have to travel is not only misleading but also parrot Pakistani talking points. He conveniently ignores the fact that India never demanded to play in just one venue; it simply refused to travel to Pakistan due to serious security concerns. Given Pakistan’s long history of terrorism and the horrific 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, India’s stance is completely justified. The BCCI has always been open to playing at a neutral venue like the UAE or Sri Lanka, ensuring a fair and safe tournament for all.
So another Champions Trophy match is washed out. This is a crazily unfair global tournament. India plays all its matches in one venue with a week’s break between matches while the other countries criss-cross countries/venues all the time . ICC is International Cricket Conference…
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) February 28, 2025
Rajdeep Sardesai’s frustration over rain affecting a match in Pakistan is even more absurd. Since when is India responsible for Pakistan’s weather? If rain is disrupting matches, blame Pakistan’s poor infrastructure that could not ensure match friendly pitches after showers or ICC’s scheduling, not India. This ridiculous argument only serves as a weak excuse to bash India while diverting attention from Pakistan’s inability to host a proper tournament. His assertions were so bizzarre for Rajdeep himself that he categorically noted that he could come out as an “anti-National” for making such prepostrous claims.
Furthermore, Rajdeep Sardesai’s claim that the ICC has turned into an “India Cricket Club” is utter baseless. The reality is, BCCI contributes over 80% of ICC’s revenue, making India the biggest stakeholder in global cricket. Unlike Pakistan, which relies on handouts from the ICC, India has earned its position through sheer dominance and financial contribution.
Pakistan harbors terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Al-Qaeda, and has been responsible for countless attacks on Indian soil, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Even today, terrorists infiltrate India from across the Pakistani border and when radicalised Pakistani spectators breach the stadium’s security to run into close proximity with a Hindu cricketer, Rachin Ravindra while holding a photo of a terrorist is all the more concerning. How can anyone expect India to play in a country that openly supports terrorism against it? Rajdeep blames India for Pakistan’s rain, security failures, and incompetence while ignoring Pakistan’s terrorist haven status. If he is so concerned about fairness, maybe he should first demand that Pakistan stops supporting terrorism before questioning India’s right to play in a safe environment. Until then, his rants remain what they always have been a desperate attempt to stay relevant by maligning India at every opportunity.
