Former Indian cricketer supports Misbah’s stance on World Test Championship

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has come out in support of Pakistan’s head coach-cum-chief selector Misbahul Haq’s stance on treating all teams fairly in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC) when cricket resumes following the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, Misbah called for the continuation of the aforementioned tournament if it means extending its initial 2021 deadline.

 “All teams need to be given the same opportunities and the tournament shouldn’t be shortened,” Misbah said in a teleconference. “The championship can be prolonged so that every team gets all the scheduled games. It’s not a problem if the tournament goes beyond 2021. You won’t get the complete picture if some teams play all their games and others don’t.”

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While speaking in a YouTube video, Chopra argued that the international cricket governing body can’t just split the points of the postponed series between differently matched teams.

“Misbah is absolutely right. I am with him on this one. First of all World Test Championship is already flawed because India is going to Australia but Australia is not coming to India. Similarly, England is coming to India but India will not go to England and India is not playing Pakistan, so how is that right?” Chopra questioned. “I understand that maybe ICC didn’t have enough time, because Future Tours Programme had already been decided and they wanted the WTC to get going, so for once you can understand. But now if ICC cancel the other remaining series and ask the teams to split their points and move on, it won’t be right. Splitting the points makes sense in a series between India and Australia but not when it concerns India and Bangladesh.”

“If you want to maintain the sanctity of WTC, then treat it fairly Misbah said,” he added.