Former England captains have come forward to express their surprise and disappointment over the scheduling of the ongoing Champions Trophy, which is being held in Pakistan, but with one notable exception - the Indian team.
As per the tournament schedule, India will play all their five matches at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, while the other seven teams will have to travel to Pakistan to play their respective matches.
This unique arrangement has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the fairness of the decision, which seems to give India an undue advantage in the tournament.
It is indeed strange that a short 15-match ICC tournament is being held in Pakistan, but only one out of the eight teams doesn't travel to the country and gets to play in an entirely different geographical location, with the other teams having to travel for just one game to Dubai to play them.
This arrangement means that India will not have to worry about adjusting to different conditions, as they will be playing all their matches at the same venue, which could give them an edge in the knockouts, if they reach that far in the tournament.
The Indian team arrived in Dubai on February 15 and, if all goes well, will stay till March 9, without having to travel anywhere, which could be a significant advantage, given the travel fatigue that other teams will have to endure.
Former England captains have expressed their disappointment over the scheduling, stating that it is unfair to the other teams, who will have to travel to Pakistan to play their matches, and then travel to Dubai to play India, which could be a significant disadvantage.
The Champions Trophy is a prestigious tournament, and the scheduling should be fair and impartial, without giving any team an undue advantage.
The ICC should reconsider the scheduling of the tournament and ensure that all teams are treated equally, without any favoritism or unfair advantages.
India's arrangement to play all their matches in Dubai has sparked a debate, with many calling for a more balanced and fair scheduling of the tournament, which would ensure that all teams have an equal chance of winning.
The ongoing Champions Trophy has already seen some exciting matches, but the controversy over India's scheduling has taken some of the focus away from the cricket, and the ICC will need to address this issue to ensure that the tournament is remembered for the right reasons.