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“They wanted an India-Pakistan final”: Moeen Ali questions pitch allocation in 2017 Champions Trophy

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has raised questions about the pitch conditions during the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, suggesting the organizers may have intentionally favored an India-Pakistan final. In the semi-finals, England faced Pakistan on a used pitch at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, where the hosts were bowled out for 211 and lost by eight wickets.

Meanwhile, India played Bangladesh on a fresh pitch at Edgbaston, chasing down 265 with ease. Ali, appearing on *Beard Before Wicket*, argued that England’s stronger team could have performed better on a faster surface, hinting at a possible bias toward a high-profile final.

Pakistan, who won the semi-final with a dominant bowling display, went on to defeat India in the final at The Oval, securing their first-ever Champions Trophy title. The match saw Fakhar Zaman score 114, while Mohammad Amir’s three-wicket haul helped restrict India to 158, a result that echoed the tournament’s controversial pitch allocations.

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