Due to the pre-seeding rule of the ICC for the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8, all four undefeated teams in the Group Stage landed in the same group. Due to this, the fans and some former cricketers are also
criticizing the pre-seeding rule. Now, former Indian cricketer and commentator Akash Chopra has slammed those critics who are accusing the ICC of favoring the BCCI with this format.
India, who finished as the table-toppers of Group A, along with Zimbabwe (Group B), West Indies (Group C), and South Africa (Group D), have all been placed in the same group for the Super 8 stage.
“Dimaag Khaali Hai Kya Yaar?” - Akash Chopra’s Take on ICC’s Pre-Seeding Rule for T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8
Akash Chopra tweeted, "Many people are saying that all of this is favoring BCCI and is happening to favor BCCI only. To those people, I want to ask something: Dimaag khaali hai kya yaar? (Is your brain empty?). This tournament is happening in two countries. So, India has to play all their matches in India, and Sri Lanka and Pakistan have to play all their matches in Sri Lanka. So, it is mandatory to keep Sri Lanka and Pakistan in one group, and India must be in a different group."
"People are saying, 'How can you do this and all? What is this pre-seeding? Here, there is no advantage of topping the group. But we have to understand that this is not happening for the first time. This happened in 2007, 2009, 2010, and even in 2012. In 2012, the exact same scenario as now unfolded, where the table toppers were together in one group," he added.
Akash Chopra has given a strong reply to the critics who were accusing the ICC of favoring the format for India, and also reminded everyone that this model was already used previously.
India is set to play their first match of the Super 8 against South Africa on 22 February at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Then the team moves to Chennai on 26 February to face off against Zimbabwe, and will play West Indies at Kolkata on 1 March 2026.
