"Camp in UAE is Ok but.."- Wasim Jaffer tarnishes Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes

Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer has criticized England for not arriving in India early to prepare for the five-match Test series. The highly-awaited Test series is scheduled to begin on Thursday (January 25) at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.

England are eyeing their first Test series win in India since the 2012/13 season. They are the last team to win a Test series in India before being thoroughly outplayed in their next two visits. In the 2016/17 season, Team India won the series 4-0 before winning the 2021/22 season 3-1.

Many believe that the current England side has got what it takes to win the upcoming series. England have not lost a Test series since Ben Stokes took charge of the team in 2022. Last winter, they registered a historic 3-0 win in Pakistan and will be hoping to replicate that performance against Team India.

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Wasim Jaffer on England’s late arrival:

England arrived in India on Sunday (January 21), just four days before the start of the series. Before arriving in India, England held a training camp in the United Arab Emirates to prepare for the series. However, Wasim Jaffer believes training in UAE won’t help England much as he criticized the visitors for arriving in India just three days before the start of the series.

“I find it really interesting that Eng who last played a Test in July, have arrived in India just 3 days before the start of an important Test series. Camp in UAE is okay but no substitute to going to the country a couple of weeks early and having a few practice games,” Wasim Jaffer wrote on X.

I find it really interesting that Eng who last played a Test in July, have arrived in India just 3 days before the start of an important Test series. Camp in UAE is okay but no substitute to going to the country a couple of weeks early and having a few practice games. #INDvENG

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 23, 2024

Meanwhile, Harry Brook has pulled out of the entire series, citing personal reasons. India will be without Virat Kohli as well for the first two Tests. The former India skipper was named in the squad for the first two Tests but withdrew, citing personal reasons. While England have named Dan Lawrence as a replacement, India are yet to do so.