Team India are on an unbeaten streak in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 so far. After beating Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand in the group-stage, the Men in Blue outplayed Australia in the semi-final to make their third consecutive appearance in the final of the showpiece tournament.
Amid the dominance, several former and current cricketers have pointed out that India are getting undue advantage by playing at just one venue.
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is playing host to India's Champions Trophy matches. Since the BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan due to security concerns and uncordial political relations, the ICC adopted a hybrid model, allowing Rohit Sharma’s team to play all of their matches in a neutral venue.
India’s win over Australia in the last-four clash also meant that Pakistan lost the right to host the title clash. The final will now take place in Dubai on Sunday (March 9) between India and New Zealand.
During the second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday (March 5), BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla was asked by a Pakistani journalist why the India team could not travel across the border only for the final.
Shukla, who is currently in Pakistan on the invitation of the PCB, gave a witty response. “For that, Australia should have won yesterday (Tuesday). But since they lost, the final would have to be played in Dubai," the BCCI VP said.
He also dismissed the claims that the Indian team has benefitted from playing at a single venue venue in this competition.
“When this decision was taken at the ICC level, it was decided that India-centric matches will be in Dubai and the rest of the matches will be in Pakistan, so it is not a question of fair or unfair,” Shukla remarked.
“The Indian team doesn’t depend on pitches, even there (in Dubai) there are different kinds of pitches. The team plays on its performances, and the players play on their strengths and do not depend on pitches,” he added.
Commenting on the resumption of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan, Shukla said it is subjected to the Indian government’s clearance.
“As far as you are asking about (cricket) between the two countries, it is very categorical and clear that it is the (Indian) government’s decision. Whatever the government of India says, we will go as per them," he stated.
“Pakistan is hosting an international tournament after a long time and it is a good thing. They have organised it well,” he added.
While the senior BCCI official acknowledged that the fans from both countries want bilateral ties to be resumed, he did not sound positive on the idea of playing at a neutral venue.
“It is true that fans from both the countries want the teams to play but the BCCI policy has been, and PCB would too have such a policy, that bilateral matches should be held on each other’s soil and not at a third (or) neutral venue,” Shukla said.
“This has been BCCI’s consistent policy. There is also a provision in the ICC which is about the government’s consent. It is a big provision, so it happens according to the point of view of the government’s consent.”
“Every other country would offer to host India-Pakistan, who would not?” the veteran administrator added.
“We (BCCI) keep our point in front of the government but they decide after their deliberations. When the government takes a decision, it is after considering a lot of aspects. It is their internal matter,” he continued.
