While reacting to the comment of Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur, ICC chairman Greg Barclay downplayed it as just a criticism that every World Cup edition faces.
The director of Pakistan cricket team Mickey Arthur’s comment on the ambience at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the game against India has sparked a massive debate in the cricket fraternity. On Monday, the International Cricket Council reacted to the remark of Arthur, stating that the global cricketing body will take note of how they can improve the arrangements in future editions.
Following a 7-wicket defeat in Ahmedabad, Arthur complained about the partisan crowd, and no Pakistani music being played at the venue made him feel like ‘a BCCI event rather than an ICC’. Pakistan fans have not been granted visas to travel to India for the World Cup.
After the match, Arthur said, “Look, I’d be lying if I said it did not affect us. It didn’t seem like an ICC event, to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series, like a BCCI event.”
Reacting to Arthur’s comment, ICC chairman Greg Barclay downplayed it as mere criticism that every World Cup edition faces.
Barclay said on the sidelines of the International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai, “Every event that we have, there are always criticisms from various quarters.”
“Things that perhaps we’ll take away and try to work on, try to do better… So this event’s only at the start. Let’s see how the whole thing plays out, and we’ll go away and review what could change, what we can do better, how we can improve World Cups, and the general offering around cricket.
He further added that, “We will just take it as it plays out and get to the end of the event. I’m satisfied that it will still be an outstanding World Cup.”
