English cricketers Alex Hartley and Kate Cross alleged that the International Cricket Council ICC is trying to ensure India reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. The duo claimed that the ICC favors India and works with the BCCI to keep high-revenue teams in the tournament for financial reasons.
The comments came ahead of the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team's must-win clash against Australia at Lord's on Sunday, June 28. They need a victory over the unbeaten defending champions to secure a place in the semi-finals. If India lose and South Africa beat Bangladesh, their campaign will come to an end.
Alex Hartley and Kate Cross Allege ICC Is Favoring IndiaKate Cross stated the ICC had already planned the semi-final schedule to ensure India would play on Tuesday if they qualified. She alleged that the decision was made to suit television audiences rather than maintain a fair tournament structure.
