Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has joined the growing criticism against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the ongoing Champions Trophy controversy. Following Saqlain Mushtaq’s remarks, Inzamam has taken an even stronger stance, calling for a collective boycott of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by international cricket boards.
The controversy first erupted after former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton highlighted that India had been given a significant advantage by playing all their Champions Trophy matches at a single venue—Dubai. Due to political tensions and security concerns, the Indian government did not allow the team to travel to Pakistan, leading the ICC to schedule all of India’s matches in Dubai. This decision has sparked widespread debate, with players from Australia and South Africa also questioning the fairness of the arrangement.
Amid this growing criticism, Inzamam has urged cricket boards worldwide to take a stand against the BCCI’s influence, particularly regarding the IPL. He pointed out that while top international players participate in the IPL, Indian cricketers are barred from playing in overseas leagues unless they retire from Indian cricket entirely.
“Keep aside the Champions Trophy. Top players participate in IPL but Indian players don’t participate in other leagues. Other boards should stop sending their players to IPL. If you (BCCI) don’t release your players for leagues, then other boards should take a stance,” Inzamam stated on a Pakistani TV channel.
Currently, BCCI regulations prevent contracted Indian players from joining overseas leagues, ensuring their exclusive participation in domestic competitions and the IPL. Any player wishing to compete in international franchise leagues must retire from all BCCI-affiliated cricket.
Meanwhile, the Champions Trophy controversy has taken another twist as both Australia and South Africa have flown to Dubai to prepare for a potential semifinal clash against India. However, with the final group-stage match between India and New Zealand still pending, the semifinal lineup remains undecided. If India defeats New Zealand, they will face Australia in Dubai. A loss, however, would set up a semifinal against a dominant South Africa.
Adding to the logistical challenge, either Australia or South Africa will have to return to Pakistan—undertaking a 2000km journey—if they end up facing New Zealand in the semifinal instead of India. This situation has further fueled the debate over whether India’s fixed venue schedule has given them an unfair edge in the tournament.
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Photo Credit: Twitter Photo of @Inzamam08
