Watch: Mitchell Starc rips apart ICC for their pathetic move in T20 World Cup 2024

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc seems to be unhappy with ICC's pre-seeding system of teams in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. The tournament was ultimately won by India who had an unbeaten run in the campaign.

Australia met India in their Super 8 match and a loss by 24 runs in the match saw them get knocked out of the tournament. Australia lost to Afghanistan and India in back-to-back Super 8 games to get knocked out of the tournament.

During the tournament, Starc spoke about the scheduling of the tournament and how taxing it was for the players with all the travel included.

“It wasn’t ideal preparation,” he stated on the Willow Talk podcast.

He described hopping between Caribbean islands every other day, playing matches under vastly different conditions – some mornings, some evenings. “Two-night games and the third a day game,” he said, highlighting the disruption to player routines.

In the same podcast, he spoke about the pre-seeding of teams in the tournament. The dispute stems from the tournament's pre-seeding method, which required Australia to be categorized as 'B2' despite their undefeated record. The pre-decided seeding system took the results of the group stage out of context which is what Starc spoke against in one of his press conferences during the World Cup as well.

Also Read: Senior ICC officials step down amid New York pitch controversy in T20 World Cup 2024

"I think there's a question to be asked about pre-seeding. I'm not sure I'm a fan of that,” Starc said in a press conference after one of the league games.

Mitchell Starc Questions ICC's Pre-Seeding System

🎙️Mitchell Starc shares his displeasure on the pre-seeding done by ICC for T20 WC 2024.

🗣️"We finished ahead of England but coz we were pre seeded we end up as 2nd side. Even the logistics issue is arguable".

🗣️Host: It's mind boggling & stupid. No other sports does that. pic.twitter.com/kDsT2ZGcvp

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) July 13, 2024

The 34-year-old further questioned the scheduling and travel logistics during the tournament with teams almost required to play back-to-back games including traveling from one island to another island.

"We end up ahead of England yet we end up on where we were pre-seeded in the second side. I am not saying that's going to change anything but all of a sudden you are in a different group. Why not have the bulk of the tournament at the beginning, then spread things out later?" said Starc on the podcast highlighting the complex process that ICC had invested in. In the same point, he also spoke about the travel for the fans which is why the semi-final venue for a few teams was decided.

The anchor of the podcast further said "It's mind-boggling and stupid that the results from the group stage don't count. It counts on the pre-seed, No other sporting contest does that. I have never heard of that ever before"

The group stage created a bizarre situation for Australia, where they potentially needed to lose a match against Scotland to eliminate England, one of the more stronger teams in the tournament. However, Australia ended up winning the match but the game certainly exposed concerns about player well-being and fair competition. Starc was rested in the match as Australia had to potentially lose the match to be in a favorable position.

Mitchell Starc's statements on ICC's pre-seeding of teams certainly will pose questions about the authenticity of ICC tournaments in the future with one ICC event scheduled almost every year in the last few years.

Also Read: Mitchell Starc reveals the reason behind missing Kolkata Knight Riders' shambolic loss to Punjab Kings in IPL 2024