After the team's embarrassing loss to India in the 2023 World Cup, Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur made an odd and contentious remark on the atmosphere and arrangements at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This comment was not well received by the cricket community. In addition to being made fun of by ex-Indian cricket players, Arthur's comment has drawn criticism from legendary Pakistani cricket players. ICC replied to Arthur's comments on Monday.
Arthur criticised the hostile audience and lack of Pakistani music performed at the site after their seventh World Cup loss to India, the joint-most by a team against a single opponent, saying it seemed more like a "BCCI event than ICC". The few fans present were citizens of other nations, as Pakistani fans were not permitted to go to India for the World Cup.
"Look, I'd be lying if I said it did [not affect us]," Arthur said after the match. "It didn't seem like an ICC event, to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; like a BCCI event."
Actually, Arthur wasn't the only Pakistani support staff member who didn't like the vibe in Ahmedabad. Grand Bradburn, the coach of Pakistan, agreed that the playing field was considerably in favour of the Indian hosts.
"We are extremely disappointed that our followers aren't here; I'm sure Indian cricket fans would also enjoy having our supporters here. The absence of any music that we were familiar with was undoubtedly unusual. In other words, it didn't feel like a World Cup game. Nothing else was anticipated by us.", He added after India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets in a lopsided match, "We love the event and we are unhappy that we did not do credit to the occasion or justice to our numerous admirers at home and beyond."
*ICC reacts to ‘BCCI event’ remark from Pakistan director
Greg Barclay, the head of the International Cricket Council, was asked to comment on Arthur's bizarre statement when it was being criticised, and he discounted it as mere criticism that every World Cup edition receives.
The inclusion of T20 cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was approved during the International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai. On the margins of the meeting, Barclay was cited by AFP as stating, "Every event that we have, there's always criticisms from various quarters."
Things that we may take away and attempt to improve upon... So, this is just the beginning of the event. Let's wait and see how everything turns out, then analyse what may change, what we can do better, and how to make World Cups and the overall cricket experience better.
"We'll just see how it goes, finish the tournament, and take it as it comes. I'm confident that the World Cup will continue to be amazing.
Despite the defeat, Pakistan still held the fourth position in the standings after three games. They had previously triumphed over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. On October 20, they play their next game in Bengaluru against Australia, who finally started their campaign by defeating Sri Lanka.
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