I think England batting more than 350 was an upset 
Couldn’t expect them to win as well but.
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Ridiculous. India were favourites before the match and were never in any danger during it. You are the only person on earth who claims otherwise. This pretence that India are the underdogs is exceptionally tiresome.
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One reason why I don’t like the Indian team.
Huge advantage to not have to travel between countries and it’s essentially allowed them to pick a team pre tournament for that pitch, it’s why many have zero interest in this tournament. Not a level playing field for all involved.
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To be fair , the Pakistan board could have ensured other stadiums for India to play.
But the point still remains , India enjoys home ground advantage even when the tournament is hosted by its arch rival.
I actually thought it was some more one days. Wasn’t aware it was a tournament until the weekend.
Let’s go! India playing us at their Dubai base that they’ve been situated at for over two week thanks to the BCCI forcing it. Although I don’t think we’ll win this - and not because of the location but just that I think India are stronger - I still would love to see India trying to rig the system and still not be able to lift the trophy.
If there was a crystal ball offer of Australia beating India but losing in the final to NZ or SA, I think even England fans would bite hands off for that.
The BCCI are truly repulsive.
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NZ please.
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Let me rephrase that….anyone but India
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My pick is SA for this one.
While that’s true…
The Pakistan board could still have insisted that India play across various pitches in UAE. There are three stadiums there.
In the 2023 world cup (held in India) , india didn’t play in any of the venues twice in the group stages.
Same goes for the 2024 T20 wc where india was made to shuttle from USA to West Indies.
So just saying that there have been cases where the Indian team were herded across as well.
The situation between India and Pakistan is well known. India will not travel to Pakistan. In that case, the ICC should either ban India from the tournament or ensure international tournaments cricket isn’t hosted in either country. The least they could have done was ensure that India - Pakistan aren’t grouped together at group stages.
They have not done anything choosing to treat the India Pakistan matches as the marquee matches.
The sad crowds at the pak stadiums even when Pak is playing don’t help matters one bit too
While true. The buck for this falls with the ICC and the PCB more.
The Indian govt stance of not sending their cricketing team to Pakistan is well known and has been in place for 15+ years.
As mentioned, the ICC needs to be asked as to why they group both the countries together.
Such a shame 2 decent fanatical cricket countries cannot regularly play home and away and have one of the great sporting “derbies”.
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I really don’t care anymore. There was a time where I cared for India Pak matches but not anymore. That’s with me not following cricket as much as I used to and also to the fact that the Pakistani team right now is shit.
Also , I can do without the jingoism that creeps in whenever there’s a match between the two teams.
As far as bilaterals go , this has been a consistent view with the govt of India as such (not just the current establishment). That’s just not on(due to various reasons which I will not go into because they are beyond the scope of this thread)
And that highlights the problem that the whole debacle between the two makes you not care.
Pakistan have always had talent. Not that I am across the countries issues, but onfield and off field seem chaotic.
Then you have India with Trump like bully boy tactics to get a suitable deal for themselves and just want to boss the show.
What do you mean by jingoism when the 2 play?
Goes on to insulting religions etc. The discourse between the toxic fuckers of both the countries isn’t something you’d be wanting to read.
The wounds of partition still exist. I’m able to stay a bit aloof from those as I’m a South indian whose family didn’t have to face the grosteque travesty that was the partition.
And then you have to look at the current state that Pakistan the country is in and it’s inability to make itself a trusted partner. Too often have Indian leaders (even not including modi) made the step in peace etc and too often has the country been bitten.
The Crux between India and Pakistan w.r.t the Indian govt and the majority of Indian populace is really simple. We just don’t want anything to do with them. And this goes across party lines fwiw.
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I don’t deny that the bully show of BCCI exists. But when it comes to India vs Pakistan matches. BCCI doesn’t really have a say. Even if the chairman of the bcci is the son of the home minister of India.
Given a chance , the greedy fuckers at BCCI would fucking mint money with india Pakistan bilaterals. But that’s something that isn’t happening as per the govt and quite a large set of population as well.
Ah religion of course. I don’t get all that and can’t add much so will respectfully step out of that one. Throw the other neighbours Afghanistan into the mix and you have an interesting threesome.
And I hope Kohli gets out in the next few overs.
There’s not that much of that sorts happening between India and Afghanistan though. If anything, bcci has provided home pitches for the Afghan team to play their games too.
While there is religion involved. It’s more to do with other factors as well.
Oh well , india did manage to win it.
Hope there’s a decent enough final there.
Hopefully NZ or SA can spring a surprise. This indian team is definitely beatable.