Former Pakistan cricketer Junaid Khan has accused the BCCI of enabling India to benefit from a ‘venue advantage’ during the Champions Trophy by playing all matches in Dubai, while other teams have faced considerable travel distances. India coach Gautam Gambhir refuted these claims, explaining the team’s training arrangements at the ICC Academy.
In the lead-up to the Champions Trophy final, former Pakistan cricketer Junaid Khan has directed significant criticism at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He contends that the Indian team has benefited from a strategic ‘venue advantage’ by playing all its matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium while other teams, including New Zealand and South Africa, have had to travel extensively between cities.?
Analyzing the travel distances for the current tournament, Junaid highlighted a stark contrast. New Zealand has reportedly traveled 7,150 kilometers, while South Africa has logged 3,286 kilometers. In comparison, India has incurred a travel distance of zero kilometers throughout the Champions Trophy 2025. Junaid concluded, “Some teams win by skill, some win by scheduling…”.
In response to these accusations, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir defended his team’s preparations, stating that they have been practicing at the ICC Academy, which features different conditions than the official stadium. He dismissed claims of undue advantage, commenting, “Kaunsi undue advantage? We practice at ICC Academy, where conditions are different from what we get here at the stadium. Some people are perpetual cribbers; they need to grow up” during a press conference following India’s progression to the final.
The accusations raised by Junaid Khan regarding India’s advantage in the Champions Trophy have sparked considerable debate. While he presents travel distance statistics aiming to bolster his argument, Gautam Gambhir counters by emphasizing the team’s preparations away from the cricket stadium. This discourse highlights the competitive dynamics within international cricket, particularly concerning venue advantages during critical tournaments.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
