The scheduling of the Champions Trophy 2025 has faced criticism, particularly regarding venue arrangements. India will play all matches in Dubai, while other teams, such as Australia and South Africa, will juggle multiple venues, creating concerns about “venue advantage.” Reports indicate that one semi-final will be in Pakistan and another in Dubai, prompting travel frustrations. For example, Australia might fly from Lahore to Dubai only to return the next day if they don’t face India, raising questions about efficiency and preparation. This situation has led some players to voice concerns about the inequitable travel demands among the teams.
The scheduling of the Champions Trophy 2025 has faced significant backlash. India is the sole team competing at a single venue (Dubai), while other teams are spread across various venues and even countries. This has led to several players expressing concerns over India’s ‘venue advantage’. Recently, reports suggest that potential semi-finalists from Group B, Australia and South Africa, are set to travel to the UAE on Saturday. However, in a puzzling twist, one of these teams will head back to India, as one semi-final will take place in Pakistan, while the other will be contested in Dubai.
The scheduling ensures that India will definitely play its semi-final in Dubai. Meanwhile, the other semi-finalist from Group A, New Zealand, will be playing its last four match in Lahore. The specific match-ups and venues for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals will be finalized following the Group A match between India and New Zealand on Sunday.
“An ICC official mentioned that the decision was made to provide the team playing the semi-final in Dubai on March 4 the greatest preparation time. However, this does put one side in the less-than-ideal situation of having to travel from Pakistan to Dubai, only to return to Pakistan the next day,” reported Cricinfo.
“Although the Lahore semi-final takes place a day later on March 5, the tournament’s scheduling means one team will need to travel and practice at a venue they aren’t required at for an entire day.”
Another report from BBC corroborated these developments.
“Group B concludes with South Africa’s match against England on Saturday, yet neither the Proteas nor Australia will know where their semi-final will be held until Sunday, after India’s match against New Zealand,” wrote BBC on Saturday.
“If they (Australia and South Africa) were to postpone their travel to Monday, waiting for fixture confirmations, they would miss the opportunity to train in Dubai—where India has played all three of its group matches,” it further stated.
Several cricketers, including Rassie van der Dussen from South Africa and former Australia captain Pat Cummins, have remarked that India holds an advantageous position by having played all their games at one venue, unlike other teams that have had to move around to different venues in Pakistan.
The report also highlighted a potential scenario where Australia could take a three-hour flight from Lahore to Dubai on Saturday, only to return on Monday if they do not face India in the semi-final.
“Similarly, South Africa is scheduled to fly to Dubai in the early hours of Sunday (after their final group match against England) and may return to Pakistan just 24 hours later if they do not encounter India,” the report added.
The team finishing second in Group A will face the winners of Group B and vice versa.
Regardless of whether they finish first or second in Group A, India is set to play their knockout match in Dubai on Tuesday.
With inputs from PTI
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