Sunil Gavaskar slams former England captains amid Dubai venue controversy: 'Their salaries also come because of India'

The debate surrounding India’s perceived advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has taken center stage. Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton voiced concerns over India’s scheduling at a single venue in Dubai. Their discussion sparked a larger controversy, with Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar hitting back strongly. Gavaskar dismissed these claims and questioned the priorities of England’s cricketing elite.

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Gavaskar hits back at Hussain and Atherton

In a scathing response, Gavaskar took a dig at Hussain and Atherton, urging them to focus on their own team’s shortcomings rather than targeting India. England failed to qualify for the semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 after losing to Australia and Afghanistan, a performance that Gavaskar believes should be their primary concern.

“I think these are all wise and experienced people. Why don’t you actually look at why your team has not qualified? That’s what I was going to ask you, sir. Rather than constantly focusing on India, are you even looking at your own backyard? Your players are in such a fragile mental state, they don’t seem to care about results as long as they meet certain expectations,” Gavaskar told India Today.

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“You must care about results. You must care for your country, for any team you play for. If you are playing for your country, the responsibility is even greater. All the time, they are moaning ‘India has got this, India has got that.’ It’s constant. We must just ignore it. Let them keep moaning. We have better things to focus on. That is the kind of attitude you must have,” he added.

Gavaskar did not stop at just defending India’s position, he also reminded Hussain and Atherton of India’s immense contribution to global cricket. He highlighted how Indian cricket plays a crucial role in generating massive revenues that benefit all cricketing nations including England.

“As I said before, it’s not even worth commenting on. It really isn’t. They are always moaning. They just cannot seem to understand where India stands in international cricket, in terms of quality, income, talent, and, more importantly, in terms of generating revenue. India’s contribution to global cricket, through television rights and media revenue, plays a massive role. They need to understand that their salaries also come from what India brings to the world of cricket,” Gavaskar stated.

India are the only team playing all their group-stage matches at a single venue in Dubai due to the Indian government’s decision not to allow the team to travel to Pakistan. This has led to criticism from various quarters, with Hussain, Atherton, and others arguing that the lack of travel and the familiarity with conditions give India an edge.