David Miller feels India’s absence from the Champions Trophy will be a huge loss

The on-going tussle between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has kept the organisers as well as the fans wondering whether the Indian team will travel to England to defend the Champions Trophy title or not.

In the wake of the dispute, South African cricketers Hashim Amla and David Miller who are both a part of the Kings XI Punjab side in the Indian Premier League said that if India does not feature in the 8 teams tournament, it would be a great loss since the defending champions have the largest number of cricket fans in the world.

“If they do not participate in the Champions Trophy, it is going to be a big loss because India has huge cricket followers in the world. Hence, it is not going to be great for stakeholders,” Miller told Press Trust of India.

Amla was also quick to add that if fans want to witness a challenging and exciting Champions Trophy, all the 8 cricketing prowess need to participate in it.

“If India pulls out, it will be a huge loss for Champions Trophy getting exposure. If somebody wants to see an exciting Champions Trophy, then all eight top teams in the world should be participating.”

Miller also confessed that he had no idea of what the tussle between the two cricketing bodies was all about, and that which team would replace India if they eventually don’t participate in the coveted tournament. “Which team will come in as replacement for India, I do not know. Nor do I know what they are going to do,” he said.

Talks of India’s uncertainty to play the tournament were dismissed for long but when BCCI missed the April 25 deadline set for announcing the Indian squad for the tournament, doubts emerged again. The BCCI has for long been at loggerheads with the ICC due to the new revenue model set by the international governing body which cuts down India’s share considerably, which is why the Indian board issued a threat of pulling out of the tournament.