0 km vs 7,048 km: Fans, cricketers speak out against India's Dubai advantage at Champions Trophy

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has been marred by logistical challenges due to India's refusal to travel to Pakistan.

As a result, a hybrid model was adopted, with India's matches being played in Dubai while other teams had to shuttle between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) multiple times besides playing matches in different Pakistani cities. This travel-heavy schedule has sparked debates about fairness, with players expressing concerns over fatigue and competitive disadvantages.

Based on a report by the Reddit page r/Cricket (1.7 million members), here is how much teams travelled during the event, and the disparity is striking.

India: 0 KM (All matches played in Dubai)
England & Afghanistan: 1,020 km 
Bangladesh: 1,953 km
Australia: 2,509 km
Pakistan: 3,133 km
South Africa: 3,286 km
New Zealand: 7,048 km

While finalists New Zealand, in particular, faced the biggest travel burden, covering over 7,000 km, India made it to the final, comfortably in Dubai without any travel stress.

Pakistan, despite being the official host, had to travel over 3,100 km, while Australia also endured over 2,500 km of travel before the crucial knockout matches.

Australian captain Pat Cummins has openly commented on the situation, suggesting that India's fixed location gave them an advantage over other teams.

He criticised the arrangement, calling it a major advantage for India. "I think it's great that the tournament is moving forward, but India playing all their matches at one venue gives them a big edge," he said.

Similar concerns were echoed by other players, with South African and New Zealand cricketers reportedly frustrated over the constant back-and-forth movement. A level playing field should have been ensured by either having all teams travel equally or keeping the entire tournament in one country, reports quoted them as saying.

Frequent travel not only affects player performance but also adds logistical and security complications. Teams had to adjust to different pitches, climates and conditions while battling fatigue. 

With the Champions Trophy nearing its climax, the debate around India's home-like advantage remains a hot topic.