Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton believe India has a scheduling advantage in the 2025 Champions Trophy, as they play all matches in Dubai. Unlike other teams competing across three venues, the Men in Blue stay in Dubai throughout.
Due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, a hybrid model was adopted, ensuring all their matches take place in Dubai. Discussing India’s advantage, Nasser Hussain shared his thoughts on Sky Sports [via Indian Express]:
“It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament have that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying ‘Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.’ It sums it up really. They are at one place, one hotel, they don’t have to travel. They have one dressing room.”
He further added:
“They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch. They sit happily and comfortably there. They know they are going to play six games there and if they will win all those, they will win another global tournament.”
Hussain’s former England teammate Michael Atherton shared a similar viewpoint, stating:
“They’re playing at just one venue. They don’t have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do. Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus in on the conditions in Dubai.”
“And obviously, they’ll know where they’re playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage.”
“They made very strategic choices in their selection”- Naseer Hussain
Nasser Hussain praised India’s smart squad selection for the Champions Trophy, considering Dubai’s conditions. Though selecting five spinners raised eyebrows, the pitches in their first two games favored spin.
“They were very smart in their selection. They probably knew what Dubai is going to be like. They picked all their spinners. there was a bit of debate with Indian media saying why don’t you have gone for an extra seamer? Why all these spinners? Now we can see why,” said Hussain.
He further added:
“For example, the other sides like England if they do get to the semis they have only one spinner (Rehan Ahmed is added as replacement of Brydon Carse), Pakistan have one frontline spinner.”
“You can say that when the injuries came they should have change that and I have made that argument. Other teams will have to pick playing XIs for different conditions in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi and then they have to travel and adjust to those conditions.”
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