Sunil Gavaskar hits back at Michael Hussey for his comments on India being unsafe
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar slammed the veteran Australian player Michael Hussey for his comments regarding India hosting the ICC T20 World later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducted IPL 2021 in India from April 9 but the tournament was suspended for an indefinite time as the players tested positive for Covid-19.
Hussey, who was a part of CSK as their batting coach, also contracted the virus. After recovering and reaching Australia safely, the veteran made a big statement saying that it won’t be safe to host T20 World Cup in the Asian country. Hussey is of the view that the T20 Championship should be conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“I think it’s going to be very difficult in my view to play T20 World Cup in India. We’re talking about eight teams in the IPL. I think there are probably a similar number, maybe more teams coming in from overseas for the T20 World Cup, there’d be more venues. As I said earlier, if they’re playing in different cities, that is when the risk goes up,” Hussey said.
The comments made by Michael didn’t go well with Sunil Gavaskar and he brutally criticized the veteran. Gavaskar asserted that none of the Australian players had any problems when India toured Australia for three ODI, three T20Is, and four Test matches. The former skipper added that nobody raised their voice when India played in Australia despite an upsurge in the Covid-19 cases.
Gavaskar wants the Australian players to show the same sympathetic consideration to India too and allow them a chance to host the ICC event. “The Aussies had no compunction in going ahead with the money-spinning India tour even in cities where they had active Covid cases and again, whether it’s a few hundred compared to hundred thousand cases, the fact is nobody in Australia suggested that the India tour be called off.
India is going through a horrific time but there are still more than four months: Sunil Gavaskar
“So, all that is asked for is a similar sympathetic consideration from all those who are trying to take it away from India. If the situation does not improve by August end then by all means take it to the UAE, the standby location for the event, but please don’t jump the gun now,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
He further targeted Michael Hussey saying that India is going through a tough time but there are still four months more for the World Cup. Sunil clarified that the situation in the country is slowly coming under control as more and more people are getting vaccinated.
“As Mr. Cricket left for home shores he observed that it would not be possible to hold the ICC T20 World Cup in India in October this year. Yes, India is going through a horrific time with the virus spread but there are still more than four months to go for the mega event. More and more people are getting vaccinated and more and more cities and states are active in trying to control the spread,” Gavaskar added.
