Pat Cummins drops truth bomb on cricket world over ‘farce’

Pat Cummins is 11,000km away from the cricket world’s swirling controversy but the Aussie Test captain doesn’t like what he’s seeing.

Pat Cummins has dropped a truth bomb on the cricket world with a “farce” unfolding at the Champions Trophy.

The tournament has been plagued by ongoing criticism of the distorted tournament that has gifted India the competitive advantage of playing every game at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, despite Pakistan being the official host country for the ICC tournament

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Pakistan has already been brutally eliminated from the ODI tournament, headlined by a defeat to bitter rivals India in Dubai.

A full house was expected at the 25,0000 capacity venue but there were empty seats on view during the match.

Veteran England cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew slammed the scheduling of the match.

“I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment,” he told ABC Sport.

“This is wrong; if you’re going to play international tournaments, you can’t pick and choose where you play and where you’re not going to play.

“I don’t see how long this can carry on for? It makes a farce of these tournaments.”

Cummins has now shared his thoughts on the controversy, declaring India has a leg-up because of the neutral venue deal.

India's Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century against Pakistan. Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP.

“I think it’s good in that the tournament can go on, but obviously it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground,” he told Yahoo.

“They already look very strong and they’ve got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there.”

Leading cricket journalist Gideon Haigh told ABC Offsiders on Sunday the Champions Trophy is “a bit of a lacklustre tournament”.

He said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can do whatever it likes because the nation is the foremost superpower in world cricket.

“It’s the ‘where does an 800-pound gorilla sit? The answer is any where it likes’,” he said.

“And that’s the case with India where they can pretty much dictate the terms.

“So India are playing all their games in Dubai for confusing reasons. The BCCI is saying the government are saying you can’t go to play cricket in Pakistan. But the government is saying the BCCI has cited security concerns about India going. So no one can quite get their story straight. And of course no one has to because India does what it like.”

Virat Kohli and Pat Cummins.

The final of the tournament will also be played in Dubai if India makes it all the way.

Australia has made a winning start at the tournament with Josh Inglis’ heroics helping the Aussies to a classy win over England on Sunday.

Cummins, who is watching the tournament unfold 11,000km away in Sydney, said before the tournament Australia’s success will depend on its ability to “scrap” out of difficult moments.

“In ODI there will be times where its pretty, where our top order blow the opposition out of the park, or our bowlers get a few early, but as important is the scrapping that can make a big difference in 50 over cricket,” he said.

“Trying things with the ball to manufacture a wicket, or hanging in there when all feels lost and seeing pressure start swinging your way.”

Australia next faces South Africa on Tuesday night before final group match against Afghanistan.

The final will take place on March 9.