As Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, addressed the media on this three-day tour of Pakistan, comments came up referring to whether India benefited from an ‘undue advantage’ in the Champions Trophy as it played at one venue alone.
But the senior administrator denied such claims stating, “The decision of hosting India’s matches in Dubai was finalized a long time ago by the ICC, so questions of fair or unfair play do not arise. And the Indian team is not dependent on the wickets, and they even play on different strips in Dubai, so the team does its best and has good performances…”
For the second time in the last two years in Pakistan, Shukla was equally adamant that a decision on a bilateral series or on the Indian team’s visiting Pakistan would depend on a decision from the Government of India.
He has, however, ruled out any chance of a bilateral series being held at a neutral venue because it goes against BCCI policy. “It is true that the fans want to witness this contest. But as a matter of policy, the BCCI (and also PCB) has always been adamant about having bilateral tournaments on home soil. We have been adamant about it and let’s see what happens in the future,” said Shukla.