Concerns regarding the scheduling of matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 have been raised by former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, particularly focusing on the advantages that the Indian team may have due to playing all its matches in Dubai. This situation has sparked a discussion about the implications of such arrangements for the tournament's fairness.
During a recent episode of the Sky Sports Podcast, Atherton expressed that India, by only playing in Dubai, holds a “hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage” due to the lack of travel involved. He noted that unlike other teams, which must journey between multiple venues and countries during the tournament, Indian players can dedicate their preparation to the specific conditions of Dubai. "They’re playing at just one venue. They don’t have to travel either between venues or between countries," Atherton commented, highlighting how this strategic advantage can influence the performance of the Indian squad.
Hussain supported Atherton's observations, pointing out that India has tailored its squad specifically for these conditions. “They were very smart in their selection. They picked all their spinners, and now we see why,” Hussain remarked. In contrast, teams like England and Pakistan, which only have one frontline spinner, might face challenges should the conditions favour spin bowling.
The perceived special treatment of India has been met with criticism from other former cricketers. Jonathan Agnew, a former England player, expressed strong disapproval of the current arrangement, stating, “If you’re going to play international tournaments, you can’t pick and choose where you play and where you’re not going to play.” Agnew highlighted the implications of such decisions for teams like Pakistan, which is playing in multiple locations, including Karachi, Dubai, and Rawalpindi during the group stage, while India remains solely in the UAE. He questioned the integrity of the tournament, asking, “How can the home team, hosting its first international tournament for so long, be playing the biggest match of the tournament away from home? It’s not right.”
Adding to the sentiments expressed, former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq conveyed frustration over the ongoing political tensions between the two cricketing rivals. He remarked on the detrimental impact that these tensions have on young cricket fans in Pakistan, stating, “The [BCCI’s] tantrums just don’t end. Children here [in Pakistan] want to see Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, but their tantrums just don’t end.”
As the tournament approaches, concerns regarding the fairness of the match scheduling continue to dominate discussions, particularly with India’s semi-final and potential final matches also taking place in Dubai. This situation raises significant questions about the tournament's integrity and the balance of competition among the participating teams.
Source: Noah Wire Services