‘It’s Just Nonsense’: Champions Trophy Playing Arrangements Termed ‘Embarrassing’ And ‘Farcical’
Last Updated:
The Champions Trophy is being held across Pakistan and UAE with Indian team playing all their matches in Dubai.
With India reaching the final, the title clash will also be held in Dubai. (AP Photo)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) continues to be criticised for the Champions Trophy schedule. The Indian team has been playing all their matches of the ICC tournament in the UAE as part of the Hybrid Model while the rest of the matches are being held in Pakistan.
Group A teams including Bangladesh, New Zealand and host Pakistan had to fly to Dubai to play their matches against India after BCCI refused to send its team across the border citing denial of permission from the government.
South Africa, who topped Group B, had to fly to Dubai along with Australia just a couple of days before the first semifinal as the last-four matchups weren’t decided till final Group A fixture that saw India face New Zealand.
The top-placed team from one group was to face the second-placed team from the other group in the two semifinals as per the format. With both India and New Zealand heading for the final group match unbeaten, both the Australian and South African teams landed in Dubai unaware of their semifinal venues.
With India then beating New Zealand to top their group, South Africa, after an 18-hour stopover in Dubai, headed back to Pakistan to face New Zealand in the second semifinal in Lahore.
Former England cricketer and commentator David Lloyd has termed the playing arrangements for a global tournament like Champions Trophy as ‘farcical’.
“It really is embarrassing that this is one of the highest, most important events in world cricket – Champions Trophy, and the arrangements of playing are farcical. It’s laughable, that you have to do that. I mean, words fail me,” Lloyd said.
“It is just nonsense. I really don’t know how else to describe it, this is a world event. You have teams who go from here to there, you might play here, you might not, so you have to go back. I’m quite a humorous guy and I think that’s quite funny actually. It’s not so funny if I’m one of the players,” he added.
David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd regarding some teams having to travel from Pakistan to UAE and back to Pakistan while India play all their matches in Dubai “it’s farcical, it’s laughable, it’s nonsense” #CT25 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/tC5qunbWUx— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) March 5, 2025
With India playing all their matches at the same venue – Dubai International Cricket Stadium – several current and former players have also claimed that the Rohit Sharma-led side is benefitting since they are well adapted to the playing conditions and don’t have to travel either unlike their opponents.
For more in-depth coverage of the Champions Trophy, check out the latest Points Table to see where your favorite team stands. Stay updated on the tournament’s top performers with the Most Runs and Most Wickets leaderboards. Keep following for all the latest updates!
