Australian Captain Calls Out India’s ‘Unfair Advantage’ for Champions Trophy

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has voiced his concerns over ICC’s “special treatment” for India and their unfair advantage in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Cummins, who opted out of the tournament to recover from an ankle injury and be with his family for the birth of his second child, criticized the scheduling disparity, stating that playing all matches at the same venue gives India a significant edge over other competing nations.

Speaking to Yahoo Sports Australia, Pat Cummins said,

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.

The ICC had initially planned for all matches to be held in Pakistan, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan. This led to the adoption of a hybrid model, with India’s matches being scheduled in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament is being played across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

India’s semifinal match will also be played in Dubai, further fueling concerns about their continued presence at a single venue.

Meanwhile, Australia, led by stand-in captain Steve Smith, began their campaign with a dominant performance against England in Lahore. Chasing a daunting 352-run target, wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis delivered a match-winning knock, scoring an unbeaten 120 off 86 balls to guide Australia to victory.