Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan has reignited the debate over India’s ‘undue advantage’ in the Champions Trophy 2025, highlighting the stark travel differences between teams.
March 9, 2025: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come under fresh scrutiny ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, with former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan accusing the governing body of giving India an unfair home-like advantage in the tournament.
Junaid pointed out that while New Zealand and South Africa had to travel extensively between matches, India played all their games at a single venue – the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Key Players from India and New Zealand to Watch Out For
Junaid Khan’s Claim:
Taking to social media, Junaid posted the distance covered by teams during the tournament:
- New Zealand: 7,150 KM
- South Africa: 3,286 KM
- India: 0 KM
His scathing remark, “Some teams win by skill, some win by scheduling”, implied that India’s favorable scheduling played a key role in their undefeated run to the final.
India Coach Gautam Gambhir Responds:
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless.
“What undue advantage? We practice at ICC Academy, where conditions are different from what we get at the stadium. Some people are perpetual cribbers; they need to grow up,” Gambhir said at a press conference.
Also Read: Champions Trophy Final: Heat & Spin-Friendly Pitch Set To Challenge India & New Zealand
‘Venue Advantage’ Debate:
The debate over India’s travel-free campaign has been a hot topic in cricketing circles. Former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton also questioned whether India gained an edge by avoiding extensive travel, unlike other teams who played in multiple cities.
While India remains the tournament favorite, the travel disparity adds another layer of controversy ahead of their much-awaited final clash against New Zealand.
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