Former head coach of the Indian cricket team Ravi Shastri hit back at Michael Vaughan for saying that the scheduling in the T20 World Cup 2024 favoured the Men in Blue.
India defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final and lifted their second T20 World Cup. The country won their first T20 World Cup title in 2007 after defeating Pakistan.
Vaughan, a former England captain, criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) when Afghanistan played their semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad and Tobago after their flight to the island was delayed for four hours.
"So Afghanistan qualified for the WC semi, winning in St Vincent on Monday night. 4 hr flight delay on Tues to Trinidad so no time to practice or get accustomed to a new venue. utter lack of respect to players, I am afraid," Vaughan posted on X, formerly Twitter.
"Surely this semi should have been the Guyana one. but because the whole event is geared towards India it's so unfair on others. #T20IWorldCup."
Now, days after India won the elusive title, Shastri hit back at Vaughan asking if he has ever lifted a World Cup, saying that he should give advices to England who lost to India in the semi finals.
"Michael Vaughan can say what he wants. Nobody in India cares. Let him sort out the England team first. He should give advice on what happened to the England team in the semifinal. India are used to lifting Cups. I know England have won twice, but India have won four times. I don't think Michael's lifted a Cup ever. So think twice. He is a colleague of mine, but that's my answer to him," Shastri told Times Now.
Remember, after winning the Champions Trophy 2013, India went on to lose five ICC finals — T20 World Cup 2014, Champions Trophy 2017, World Test Championship 2021 and 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023.
