India given 'huge advantage': Pat Cummins slams unfair ICC Champions Trophy decision

Australia skipper Pat Cummins was ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to an injury

Rohit Sharma and Co. have started the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, currently underway in Pakistan and Dubai, on the right foot. The Men In Blue launched their campaign with a commanding victory over Bangladesh, and repeated the same against arch rivals Pakistan, defeating both with a margin of six wickets. The outcome saw India also move into the semifinals as both Bangladesh and Pakistan are eliminated, making New Zealand the second team from Group A to enter the final four.

While all the participating nations are playing in Pakistan, India have all their matches lined up in Dubai, which Australia pacer Pat Cummins, who is not part of the tournament, feels give Rohit and his boys an unfair advantage. “I think it's good that the tournament can go on, but obviously it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong and they've got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there,” Cummins said during an interaction with Yahoo Sports Australia.

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Why are India playing all their matches in Dubai?

The ICC was forced to conduct the tournament in a hybrid model, adding Dubai as a last minute venue after BCCI refused to travel across the border citing security concern. The matches in Pakistan are played across three venues - Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.

The refusal from BCCI put both boards into loggerheads before ICC ruled the verdict in favour of India and allowed all their matches in Dubai. The tensions were so high at one point that Pakistan also warned of boycotting the event altogether, which hasn't been the case.

After ICC stated the tournament to be held in a hybrid model, PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) also put in certain demands of them. In return, PCB stated that a similar rule be followed for all the ICC tournaments, which are scheduled to be played in India until 2031. Reportedly, the ICC has agreed to a hybrid model but until 2027, during which India will co-host the T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in 2026 and the Women's World Cup in 2025.

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Latest reaction

After Pakistan hosted their first ICC event in 29 years, the board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said he is disappointed with India's refusal to play the matches in Pakistan. “We are focused on delivering a world class event but it is undoubtedly disappointing that India is not playing in Pakistan,” Naqvi told PTI before leaving for Dubai to watch the Pakistan and India match on Sunday.