Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has criticized the ICC for the default Super 8 classification in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
A total of 20 teams participated in the ongoing ninth edition of the T20 World Cup. Of the 20 teams, eight have advanced to the Super 8. The eight teams have been divided into two groups for Super 8. India, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are in Group 1, while the West Indies, South Africa, England and the United States They are in Group 2.
The teams were selected by the ICC even before the tournament. As a result, the teams did not gain any advantage after finishing at the top of the points table in the group stage. Countries like Australia and India have found themselves in the same group despite topping their respective groups. Australia were seeded B2 even though they finished on top after winning all four of their group matches.
Mark Butcher criticizes ICC for Super 8 classification before tournament
Several former and current cricketers, including Australian star Mitchell Starc, have expressed disappointment over the default Super Eight qualifying and tournament schedule. And now Mark Butcher has also expressed his disapproval of the rule.
The former England cricketer criticized the ICC and indirectly accused them of favoring India. He also expressed surprise that India already knew its venue for the semi-final even before qualifying. No matter where India finishes in the Super 8, if they manage to qualify for the semi-finals, the match will take place in Guyana.
“All of that, from start to finish, from the idea of where you finish first or second in the group stage, it didn’t matter where you finished in the Super Eight. And then a team knows what group they will be in in the Super Eight.” Eight and where their semi-final will be, meaning the other team finishing second also knowing where their semi-final will be is extraordinary,” Butcher said while speaking on Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast.
“How do you organize a competition based on the fact that one team knows exactly, if everything goes according to plan, that it will play its semi-final on a certain day and in a certain place, when everyone in the opposing group has no idea? And that’s what it should be.
“You shouldn’t have any idea. The group thing was predetermined simply because there was no classification between finishing first or second in the group stage and that’s wrong. I found it surprising, and we all know why that is.
“It’s because TV audiences, as far as India is concerned, pay the bills and therefore they were promised or given a scenario where they would know exactly where they would play their semi-final if they reached it. I find that incredible.
“You will not do it [hear anything from the broadcasters] because they are working for the ICC and the ICC will not allow any kind of dissent from the people it asked to come and work for it, so you don’t hear any criticism of anything. “It is not allowed, prohibited,” she added.
Meanwhile, the top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals.