Cricket

India's Familiarity with UAE Conditions Gives Them an Edge in Women's T20 World CupFormer Indian women's cricket captain Mithali Raj believes that India will have a significant advantage in the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 3.The UAE's conditions are similar to those found in India, giving the Indian team a familiarity that other teams may not have. "The UAE is, again, in very similar conditions, so we can say that, you know, our team has the advantage," Raj told Star Sports.However, Raj cautioned against complacency, emphasizing that every team will be well-prepared for the tournament. "But again, the World Cup means every team comes well prepared," she added.Despite reaching the finals of several ICC events, including two senior World Cups, the Indian women's team has yet to win a global title. "The Indian women's team, so far, hasn't won, other than the Under-19 World Cup," Raj said.Raj expressed her desire for the team to perform well in the tournament. "I think I will definitely want the team to do well because, like everybody else, when we get into the World Cup, we want our team to win," she said.India will open their campaign against New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai. They have been placed in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

India's knowledge of their T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final venue in Guyana has sparked controversy, with former players and pundits questioning the fairness of the arrangement.India captain Rohit Sharma downplayed the advantage, but Sanjay Manjrekar believes it influenced India's team selection, particularly their inclusion of four spinners. Nick Knight echoed this sentiment, stating that it "didn't seem right or fair."Michael Vaughan went further, accusing the ICC of favoring India due to their financial contributions. He criticized the scheduling, which allowed India to play all their matches in the morning for prime-time viewing in India.Knight also questioned the ICC's decision to have different rules for the semi-finals, with Afghanistan and South Africa having a reserve day while India and England did not. He suggested condensing the group stages and moving the final to Sunday to avoid such situations.Manjrekar urged the ICC to prioritize a level-playing field over commercial gains. He argued that the focus should be on creating a high-quality product rather than catering solely to market demands.The controversy highlights the tension between the ICC's desire to maximize revenue and the need to ensure fairness and integrity in the sport. It remains to be seen how the ICC will address these concerns in future tournaments.