India played the Champions Trophy in Dubai instead of Pakistan. Rohit’s brigade got an unfair advantage because of this. Cricketers and the public have repeatedly raised this claim throughout the tournament. However, Wasim Akram has stopped all the criticism this time. The former Pakistan pacer is clear that whether the game was played in Dubai or Pakistan, India would have won the Champions Trophy.

India played all the matches of the Champions Trophy in Dubai in a hybrid model. While other teams had to travel from Pakistan to Dubai. Team India is getting an extra advantage – this is what former England cricketer Nasser Hussain and current cricketer Jos Buttler are criticizing. Even South African star David Miller has clearly said that he was tired of traveling from Pakistan to Dubai. That is why he lost the semi-final. That is why he will support New Zealand in the final, so that India playing in Dubai can be taught a ‘proper lesson’.

Although Team India coach Gautam Gambhir clearly said that his team is not getting any unfair advantage at all. This time the same thing was heard from Akram’s mouth. At an event, the former Pakistan pacer clearly said, “No matter where the game is played in the world, the Champions Trophy would have gone to India. There has been a lot of talk about their game in Dubai. But if India had played in Pakistan, they would have won the trophy there too.”

Why is Akram saying this? Citing statistics from last year, he says, “India won the T20 World Cup without losing a single match. They are also undefeated in the Champions Trophy. How much depth there is in Indian cricket, this performance shows that. After the disappointing performance against New Zealand and Australia, there were demands that the coach-captain should be removed. But the BCCI has put their trust in them. That trust has paid off in the Champions Trophy.” The former Pakistan pacer highly praised the role of the BCCI in standing by everyone during difficult times. Did he turn and poke fun at his own country’s board?