There has been a lot of chatter around the so-called “advantage” India cricket team in Champions Trophy 2025. From Pat Cummins to South Africa’s Van der Dussen to other former cricketers, no time has been wasted in blaming Rohit Sharma and co. for an “unfair advantage” by playing all their games in Dubai. But is true though? Would India not have enjoyed an advantage if they had decided to travel to Pakistan for the marquee event? Well, the critics need to revisit the news and rethink what venom they are spewing.
India’s advantage would still stand if they traveled to Pakistan
It is pertinent to point out that had India decided to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy, then the same Dubai advantage would have remained. How? Simply because Rohit Sharma and co. would have played all their matches at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. This means they would have played all their matches at the same venue, stayed in the same hotel and trained at the same place. The very same lame excuses that critics are citing as India’s advantages for playing all their matches in Dubai.
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In fact, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had even offered to ferry the Indian team from Lahore to Chandigarh after every match, to which the BCCI had flatly refused. One can wonder if the same critics would have voiced similar opinions if India had decided to play in Pakistan.
India last traveled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup. Following that tourney, the former has boycotted cricket in the latter due to geopolitical tensions. As a result, a hybrid model was adopted for the Champions Trophy 2025. Under this arrangement, India would play all their matches in Dubai. This includes three group stage fixtures and a semi-final followed by the final if they qualify. Now that India have qualified for the semis, one knockout game is for sure to take place in Dubai. The other will take place in Lahore, the same place where India would have played all their matches had they opted to travel to Pakistan. So, does the whining of the critics really hold any value whatsoever?
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