Nasser Hussain Supports India in Face of Favouritism Allegations in T20 World Cup 2024
Nasser Hussain defends India amidst favouritism allegations.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain shrugged off the allegations that India had favourable pitch conditions and scheduling at the T20 World Cup 2024, following their decisive 68-run victory over England to advance to the final.
Former England cricketers Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd were outspoken about the ICC’s decision to give India the second semifinal spot, irrespective of their Super Eight results.
They also pointed out that India was the only leading team that did not play any matches under lights during the tournament. Nasser Hussain, however, did not agree with their perspective.
According to Nasser Hussain, India deserved to be in the final as they know the ability of adapting to different pitch conditions. Against Australia in their last Super Eight match in St Lucia, India capitalized on a flat batting track.
On the other hand, the semifinal in Guyana offered a slow, low-bouncing pitch that made shot-making difficult for India’s batter. Rohit Sharma still managed to get a half-century and take his team to a total of 171, which was beyond par at that venue.
Here’s what Nasser Hussain wrote in his column for the Daily Mail:
“The narrative ahead of semi-final was that ICC prioritized India’s path to the final with the pitch, the venue, the conditions. However, a closer look reveals they just defeated the ODI world champions Australia on a bouncier pitch in St Lucia before playing on a slower surface against England and winning comfortably. Credit to them for their strong performances, as the two unbeaten sides in the tournament, India and South Africa, now face off in the final in Barbados on Saturday.”
“India’s 171 total was only little more than their 168 in Adelaide in their 2022 semi-final defeat by England. However, the pitch conditions were vastly different. Seam bowlers kept the ball low, while spinners generated sharp turn with minimal bounce. This made India’s total a respectable one to defend. Rohit Sharma demonstrated his class by adapting his game, eschewing his go-to pull shot, en route to another half-century.”
Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel unleashed their spin prowess, crippling the England team‘s batting order and suffocating their run-scoring, with each taking three wickets as England bowled them out for just 103 runs in their run-chase of 171.
