‘India is the only team that knows…’ – Former Pakistan player feels Champions Trophy 2025 schedule favors Men in Blue

In just a month, the first major ICC event of the year is set to take place. Champions Trophy 2025 is set to see eight nations. India are in the same group as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. The other group has powerhouse teams like Australia, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan. 

The tournament was initially set to be held only in Pakistan but the BCCI didn’t want to tour across the border. The tournament then was turned into a Hybrid Model with India playing all their matches in Dubai. In case the Men in Blue do qualify for the playoffs, the finals of the tournament will be held in Dubai instead of Lahore. 

Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketers Salim Altaf and Intikhab Alam feel that the Indian cricket team are getting favoured in terms of schedule. Salim Altaf said “India is the only team that knows, where it will play the semi-finals and finals. While the other teams will know that once the group stage is completed.”

Intikhab Alam supports Salim Altaf’s views 

Intikhab Alam seconded the views made by Salim Altaf when he said “Like other teams, India will not go from venue to venue. It will avoid the logistics of travel besides getting similar kind of pitches and cricketing environment in one venue. It is not fair on other teams. It’s surprising to me that the other cricketing boards did not raise objections”

Meanwhile, former Australian star Shane Watson who is promoting the tournament said to Star Sports, “Champions Trophy is a critically important tournament in world cricket because the ODI World Cup comes only in 4 years. Champions Trophy was great because it broke up those 4 years. Champions Trophy was a special tournament from a playing perspective because there was always something riding on every single game," 

The former ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy winner said “When you are playing bilateral series throughout the year, it can get a bit stale. But when you play an ICC event where there are only 8 teams where there is something riding on every ball, as a team you have to hit the ground running early otherwise you will be out,"