West Indies legend Sir Andy Roberts has declared “India can’t get everything”, slamming their perceived “advantage” by playing in Dubai during their ICC Champions Trophy victory.

India securing the title with a four-wicket win over New Zealand, playing all of their games in Dubai despite the tournament being hosted by Pakistan.

The BCCI’s reasoning behind the move was that the Indian government had refused their cricket team permission to travel to Pakistan, with tensions between the neighbouring countries running high.

“Something’s got to give… India can’t get everything,” Roberts said on Mid-Day.

“At the Champions Trophy, India did not have to travel at all. How can a team not travel during a tournament? It is not fair, it’s not cricket.

“There has to be a level playing field. I know a lot of money comes from India, but cricket ought not to be a one-country sport.

“It now looks like a one-nation competition and the playing field is not level.”

Roberts went on to say that the “ICC stands for Indian Cricket Board”.

“India dictates everything. If tomorrow, India says, ‘listen there should be no no-balls and wides,’ take my word, the ICC will find a way to satisfy India,” he said.

Outside of criticism levelled at the BCCI, the Pakistan Cricket Board was also slammed for their failure to send a representative to the final.

According to Times of India, Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the PCB, was unable to attend due to illness, while others also failed to attend.

Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar took to Twitter with a video to voice his frustrations.

India has won the ICC Champions Trophy today but I noticed something strange. Pakistan were the hosts in the tournament but there were no representatives here,” he said.

“This is beyond my understanding. Why was there no one to represent us and give the trophy? Please think about it, it’s a world stage but sadly I could not see any PCG members.” (Fox Sports)

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The ICC Champions Trophy has come into deep criticism for its organisation and some confusion surrounding the scheduling and travel circumstances, forced on by the mandate for India to play their games in the UAE while the rest of the tournament takes place in Pakistan.

This came to a head as the South African team was forced to fly to Dubai and back to Lahore in quick succession, due to the semifinal locations and matchups not being set until less than 48 hours before the first semifinal in Dubai was set to begin.

Former English player and pundit David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd commentated on his thoughts on the matter, not biting his tongue as he explained his take on the situation, on a video posted by a user on X.

“It’s really embarrassing that this is one of the highest, most important events in world cricket, and the arrangements of playing are farcical,” said Lloyd.

“It’s laughable, that you have to do that. I mean, words fail me.”

The English commentator has been fiercely critical of ICC tournament scheduling, last year speaking his mind on the manner in which Pakistan and India were put in the same group repeatedly.

‘It is just nonsense…’

On this occasion, both Australia and South Africa were forced to travel to Dubai on Sunday, with India’s result against New Zealand determining which of the two teams would play in the first semifinal against India in Dubai, and which in the second against New Zealand. The fact that their group was settled but the semifinal wasn’t was a source of perplexity for many within the cricket world.

“It is just nonsense. I really don’t know how else to describe it, this is a world event,” continued Lloyd.. “You have teams who go from here to there, you might play here, you might not, you might have to go back.”

“I’m quite a humorous guy and I think that’s quite funny actually, but it’s not so funny if I’m one of the players,” concluded Lloyd.

India were able to capitalise on their home base of Dubai to beat Australia in the semifinal, while the confusion and exertion surrounding South Africa’s round-trip might well have played a part in them crashing out of the tournament against New Zealand a day later.

The choice to have two games in the span of three days in Dubai was the source of this confusion, leading to mass criticism of the ICC’s scheduling favouring India at the expense of other teams. Nonetheless, India have reached their third consecutive Champions Trophy final, which will be played in Dubai against the Kiwis. (Hindustan Times)

"It's farcical, it's laughable, it's nonsense!" – Legendary cricketer David 'Bumble' Lloyd on teams traveling between Pakistan and UAE while India plays all matches in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/sTIEMwt6m3

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) March 6, 2025

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As Pakistan departed Dubai and New Zealand readied itself for a visit to the Emirates, the absurdity of what is clearly a compromised Champions Trophy came into full view.

In a tournament it is hosting, Pakistan’s defence of the Champions Trophy came with a whimper at a venue 2,000km from home against its arch-rival India.

New Zealand, which are the third favourites to win the Champions Trophy behind India and Australia, secured a spot in the semifinal of the tournament by beating Bangladesh.

They will play India, which was granted the right to play exclusively in Dubai for security reasons, on Sunday there and then return to Pakistan for a semifinal next week.

It is entirely possible, based on form, that they will then return to the Middle East to play India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan … in Dubai.

Having started the tournament with a win over Pakistan in Karachi, they defeated Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, which is more than 1,100km away.

It is nearly 2,000km to Dubai for the round-robin bout with India. The Kiwis then have to travel that distance back to Pakistan for a semifinal next Wednesday.

If they manage to survive for the final, and it is played in Dubai, they will have travelled up to 8,000km from the time the tournament began with two international trips thrown in.

And if not New Zealand, it is probable that either Australia and South Africa will also visit Dubai for a sudden-death final after playing the rest of the event around Pakistan.

While every pundit agrees it is better for world cricket that India is playing the Champions Trophy, this event will always carry an asterisk as a result.

In a chat with another ex-England captain in Mike Atherton, former skipper Nasser Hussain outlined the reasons why India are advantaged in this Champions Trophy.

It is not only to do with travel, but also in terms of being able to select a squad certain of the characteristics of the spinning-friendly conditions they will confront in Dubai.

“So the best team in the tournament has that advantage,” he said on Sky Sports.

“I saw a tweet the other day saying, ‘Pakistan host nation, India home advantage’. And that sort of sums it up. They’re in one place. They’re in one hotel. There is no travel. They are in the one dressing room. They know the pitch. They’ve picked for that pitch.

“I think (with) selection, when they selected, they were very smart. They probably knew what Dubai was going to be like. They picked all their spinners. There was a bit of debate … from Indian media saying, ‘What haven’t you gone for the extra seamer? Why all these spinners?’ Well, we’ve seen why. And other sides have not done that.

“Pakistan … had one frontline spinner, you could argue. When the injuries came, they should have changed that, and I’ve made that argument.

“But all the other sides have to pick for different conditions (in) Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Dubai, and then they have to travel and adjust to those conditions. So it is an advantage. But … once India refused to come here to Pakistan, what else could happen?

“You can’t have a tournament about this without India (or) Pakistan. That’s not going to happen. So it had to be in Dubai, and they sit happily and comfortably there, knowing that they’re going to, you know, probably play six games there, and if they win all those, they’ll win another global tournament.”

DOES INDIA RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN ICC EVENTS? NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED.

It is not the first time India have been seen to be favoured in an ICC ODI competition in the past 18 months, but at least in 2023 they were the hosts of the World Cup.

There was some grumbling in that tournament that India, which played superbly at home until beaten by Australia in the final, received preferential treatment at home.

It may have been perception only, but there is an argument that the hosts received decent breaks between matches and also drew the weakest opponent in the last round of the marathon round-robin stages, which helped with their planning for the event.

While India had played the last match in T20 World Cups in 2016, 2021 and 2022, the only time it had happened previously in the post-2000 era in ODI World Cups was 2011.

It was also reported by the Mumbai Express that the pitch at Wankhede Stadium prior to a semifinal against New Zealand had the grass shaved from it to make it slower, which prompted condemnation from Fox Cricket expert Michael Vaughan.

The concerns about this tournament were raised as far back as January after it was confirmed India would be based in Dubai as a compromise given security reasons.

Aside from the history between the two nations, the impact of the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai shook India and the world and is a reason for the nation’s reluctance to play in Pakistan.

But whether it is fair is another matter. In January The Times of India reported concerns from former Pakistan Test bowler Salim Altaf about the situation.

“India is the only team that knows where it will play the semi-finals and the final, while the other teams will only know once the group stage is completed,” he said.

“Unlike other teams, India will not go from venue to venue. It will avoid the logistics of travel besides getting similar kinds of pitches and a cricketing environment at one venue.

“It is not fair on other teams. It is surprising to me that the other cricket boards did not raise any objections.”

English journalist Jonathan Agnew said last weekend that forcing Pakistan to play India in Dubai in a tournament it is hosting made a “farce” of the event.

“I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment. This is wrong,” he told the ABC.

“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. I don’t see how long this can carry on for. It makes a farce of these tournaments.”

ADVANTAGE INDIA BUT ROHIT SHARMA AND HIS MEN WILL FACE GREATER CHALLENGES

India still have to get the job done and while their depth is incredible, the competition is set to get tougher for the remainder of the Champions Trophy.

Atherton, while certain they are advantaged, said it is difficult to quantify how much the short-priced favourites for the Champions Trophy are benefiting from being able to use Dubai as a home away from home in this tournament.

“The advantage India has in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai, which seems to me to be a hard to quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage,” he said on Sky Sports.

“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 can focus 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, how big an advantage.” (Fox Sports)

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The return of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy for the first time since 2017 will see the winners of the eight-team tournament earn US$2.24 million, as well as the trophy they will lift on 9 March.

The runners-up will receive $1.12 million, while the losing semi-finalists walk away with $560,000 each, from the total prize pot of $6.9 million, a 53% increase from the 2017 edition.

Every match counts at the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy and each group match win is worth more than $34,000 to the victorious team. Teams that finished fifth or sixth will each earn $350,000 while the seventh and eighth-placed sides take home $140,000.

In addition, all eight teams are assured of $125,000 each for competing in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

The first global cricket tournament to be hosted in Pakistan since 1996 promises to be a thrilling two-week competition, with matches played in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

The format of this year’s tournament sees the eight teams divided into two groups of four, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the semi-finals.

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy will take place every four years with the world’s top eight ODI teams, with the Women’s Champions Trophy launching in 2027 in a T20 format.

ICC Chair Jay Shah said, “The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 represents a pivotal moment for cricket, reviving a tournament that highlights the pinnacle of ODI talent, where every match is critical. The substantial prize pot underscores the ICC’s ongoing commitment to investing in the sport and maintaining the global prestige of our events. Beyond the financial incentive, this tournament ignites fierce competition, captivates fans worldwide, and plays a vital role in fostering the growth and long-term sustainability of cricket for future generations.”

*All prize money is in US Dollars. (ICC)

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With one week to go until the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 gets underway, each nation has finalised its squad and named the players who will be in action in Pakistan and the UAE.

Ahead of the action getting underway, here is a full list of the confirmed squads who will be on show:

Group A

Bangladesh

Bangladesh, semi-finalists at the most recent ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2017, will be captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto as they bid to go further this time around.

Shakib Al-Hasan and Litton Das have been left out of a squad containing the vast experience of Mahmadullah and Mushfiqur Rahim and some exciting youngsters.

Nahid Rana is Bangladesh’s fastest-ever bowler, regularly topping 150kph, while Rishad Hossain’s first scoring shot in T20I cricket was a six, and on his ODI debut he struck the first ball he faced for six. Both players are 22 and will hope to have a big impact.

Bangladesh: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

India

India’s squad contains eight of the players who carried them to success at the most recent ICC global event, the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, including captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

They are without influential paceman Jasprit Bumrah, a late withdrawal due to a back injury. He has been replaced by Harshit Rana, 22, who made his ODI debut against England earlier this year and took 19 wickets to help Kolkata Knight Riders win last year’s IPL.

Mohammed Shami, who finished as the leading wicket-taker at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with 24, is also part of India’s seam artillery.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

New Zealand

Mitchell Santer will captain the Black Caps for the first time at an ICC event and leads a side – and attack – containing some fresh faces.

With Tim Southee and Trent Boult having stepped aside, Will O’Rourke, Nathan Smith and Ben Sears are among those hoping for opportunities to impress – they will be competing with the seasoned Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson for spots.

Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, who scored 578 runs at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, spearhead an experienced batting line-up.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

Pakistan

Winners in 2017, Pakistan are able to call on some their heroes from that occasion as they aim for a repeat.

Fakhar Zaman, who scored a century in the final eight years ago, and Babar Azam are included, along with Faheem Ashraf.

Mohammad Rizwan captains the squad, which is missing rising star Saim Ayub through injury, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf lead the pace attack.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Group B

Afghanistan

Afghanistan were forced into an eleventh-hour change to their squad when spinner AM Ghazanfar was ruled out with a back injury, leading to a call-up for 20-year-old left-armer Nangyal Kharoti.

They are also without influential spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman but Rashid Khan, who took just 43 matches to reach 100 ODI wickets – setting a record at the time – is included.

Ibrahim Zadran, who struck a match-winning 87 against Pakistan in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, and then followed up with an unbeaten 129 against Australia, bolsters a batting line-up also including Rahmanallah Gurbaz, who scored 280 runs in the same competition.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.

Australia

Australia is missing several household names, with Mitchell Starc (personal reasons) joining Pat Cummins (ankle), Josh Hazelwood (hip) and Mitchell Marsh (back) among their absentees along with Marcus Stoinis, who has retired from ODI cricket.

Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson will fill the seam void while spinner Tanveer Sangha will offer support for Adam Zampa.

Steve Smith captains in Cummins’ absence and will be an important figure in a batting line-up also featuring Travis Head, who scored a masterful 137 in Australia’s victory over India in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.

England

England, captained by Jos Buttler, have called Tom Banton into their 15-strong squad. The 26-year-old, who is fresh from two ILT20 centuries in the UAE, replaces the injured Jacob Bethell.

The squad also includes Joe Root, recently back in the 50-over fold having not featured in the format since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. He will play in his third ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, while Buttler, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood have also featured in the tournament previously.

Surrey duo Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith, who both made explosive starts to their Test careers in 2024, are included, as is speed merchant Jofra Archer.

England: Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

South Africa

The Proteas suffered a late injury blow in the form of Anrich Nortje, who withdrew due to a back injury, with Corbin Bosch named as his replacement.

Temba Bavuma captains and is set to open, with Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton battling it out to partner him, while Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen make up a hard-hitting middle order.

Kagiso Rabada leads the pace attack with Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi offering the spin options.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch. (ICC)

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