Home advantage is a real thing in a sport where conditions matter a lot, but I've always maintained that having home advantage (or extreme familiarity in this case) doesn't automatically translate into victory for the "home" team.
My gripe has always been with how India bullied Pakistan out of hosting the tournament and played their matches in Dubai, including two of the three knockouts. Shit, even the trophy was presented to Rohit Sharma by Jay Shah when it should've a PCB executive since it's a home event for the PCB. And, this might rub people the wrong way, but I have an even bigger gripe with the Indian fans who have gone on to defend and undermine the BCCI's pull instead of criticizing their own board because they're too blinded by their jingoistic views.
Whenever an Indian fan brings up the Pakistan CT fiasco and sides with Pakistan, there's always a "but" at the end of their point. "India should've gone to Pakistan, but it is what it is.", "in a just world the tournament would've taken place without India since they're the only ones complaining about security, but the BCCI is too big to sit out the tournament and for it to be profitable in the slightest". All these buts as if we don't already know. All your doing is playing devils advocate for no reason, and it colours you in a bad light.
There is no denying this current Indian side is probably the most talented, versatile and complete side in at least the ODI format. The calls for India's 2023 WC side being THE greatest ODI WC side were not unjustified, but when you have a board that goes out of its way to facilitate a team as talented as this, it does undermine what they've achieved in most people's views. You win and it's the most shallow victory imaginable, you lose and it's the most ridiculous bottlejob imaginable.
Regardless, I hope Pakistan gets to host a proper ICC event once in my lifetime. It seems bleak and damn near impossible at this moment, but umeed per dunya qaim hai.
