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Former England captain Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain feel India have an ‘advantage’ playing all their matches in Dubai.
India are playing all their ICC Champions Trophy matgches in Dubai (AP)
India’s spot in the semifinals of ICC Champions Trophy was confirmed following New Zealand’s victory over Bangladesh, the result also eliminating tournament hosts Pakistan from the event on Monday.
India won their first two matches in convincing fashion, beating both Bangladesh and Pakistan by identical margin of six wickets. New Zealand, who too have registered two victories in as many matches, also advanced to the last four stage from Group A.
ALSO READ | Pakistan Knocked Out Of Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final Race, India Qualifies After NZ Beats BAN
Former England captain Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain feel India have an ‘advantage’ playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to travel to the host country Pakistan for the tournament.
“What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai, which seems to me to be a hard to quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage. 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,” Atherton asked on Sky Sports.
“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 kind of hard to quantify. How big? How big an advantage?” Atherton asked Hussain.
“No, it is an advantage. So the best team have in the tournament have that advantage. I saw a tweet the other day saying, Pakistan, home host nation, India, home advantage. And that sort of sums it up. Really, they’re in one place. They’re in one hotel. There is no travel. They’re in one dressing room. They know the pitch. They’ve picked for that pitch. I think 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 even, but from India media saying, Why haven’t you gone for the extra? Seems like, why all these spinners? Well, we’ve seen what, why, and also other sides,” Hussain said.
“They’re not done like I mentioned, England, if they do get through to a semi, they’ve got one spinner. Pakistan last night 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 nights have to pick and for different conditions, Karachi, Lahore, alpindi, Dubai, and then they have to travel travel and adjust to those conditions. So it is, it is an advantage. But what else could could happen? ICC once India refused to come here to Pakistan. What else could happen? You can’t have a tournament like this without India, 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 they’ll win another global board,” he added.
For more in-depth coverage of the Champions Trophy, check out the latest Points Table to see where your favourite 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!
- Location :
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
