“Surprising that the other boards did not raise any objection” - Former Pakistan bowler slams India over 2025 Champions Trophy schedule

Former Pakistan cricketer Intikhab Alam has slammed India over the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule. The tournament, originally scheduled in Pakistan, will now see a hybrid model, with India playing their matches in Dubai.

Speaking to the Pakistan newspaper 'Dawn,' Alam opined that India will have an unfair advantage as they will play all their games in similar conditions and at the same venue throughout the tournament. He added that other teams in India's group will have to travel to Dubai to play against them.

He further pointed out that India will not have to worry about logistics or travel.

"Like other teams, India will not go from venue to venue," Alam said (via TOI).

The 83-year-old also mentioned that no other cricket board objected to the original schedule.

"It will avoid the logistics of travel besides getting similar kinds of pitches and cricketing environment at one venue. It is not fair on the other teams. It’s surprising for me that the other cricket boards did not raise any objection," he added.

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Is India playing all their Champions Trophy 2025 matches at one venue 'unfair'?

While India will play their Champions Trophy 2025 games in Dubai, all the other teams will play across three venues (Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi) in Pakistan. The Men in Blue will also play the semi-final and final in Dubai, if they make it to the knockouts.

Former Pakistan cricketer Salim Altaf also believes it would be unfair to other teams. He pointed out that India will be the only team who are aware of where they will play the knockout games even before the tournament begins.

"India is the only team that knows where it will play the semi-finals and the final, while the other teams will only know that once the group stage is completed," Salim Altaf told 'Dawn' (via TOI).

Pakistan are the official hosts of the Champions Trophy 2025. However, a compromise between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the International Cricket Council (ICC) saw the hybrid model being implemented.