Mohammed Shami admits India playing all Champions Trophy games in Dubai 'certainly an advantage'

Senior India pacer Mohammed Shami admitted the Men in Blue did have an advantage over other teams in the ICC Champions Trophy by playing all of their matches at a single venue. The BCCI’s refusal to send the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team to host nation Pakistan citing security concerns resulted in India getting to play all of their matches in Dubai under a ‘Hybrid Model’, which has been a major talking point in the ongoing tournament.

Champions Trophy 2025: News | Schedule |  Results

Several former and current cricketers including ex-England captains Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton have been critical of the ICC and the BCCI for giving the Indian team an “unfair” advantage over other teams. The fact that India have been the most well rested of the eight teams by not catching a single flight since their arrival in Dubai on 16 February was being seen as a reason for their dominant performance so far in the tournament.

More from First Cricket

Former New Zealand coach who defeated India in WTC final appointed Andhra Pradesh head coach for Ranji Trophy Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh by six wickets to record commanding win in Asia Cup 2025

Also Read | David Miller, David Lloyd criticise India's Dubai advantage before Champions Trophy final

On the other hand, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar as well as India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir have shut down discussions surrounding their Dubai advantage, stating that it was their superb planning and execution led to four wins in as many games en route to the Champions Trophy final.

‘We know the conditions and the behaviour of the pitch’: Shami

Shami’s comments, however, contrasts from that of his captain and coach. The 34-year-old speedster, who had starred in the victory over Bangladesh with a haul of 5/53 on 20 February, said their knowledge of the Dubai wicket and conditions certainly was a factor in India’s superb performance.

“It is certainly helping us. We know the conditions and the behaviour of the pitch,” Shami said after collecting 3/48 in the Tuesday’s Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia, which India ended up winning by four wickets.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

“It is certainly an advantage to play all the matches at one venue,” he added.

India face New Zealand in the final on Sunday with an eye on becoming the most successful team in Champions Trophy history by winning the ‘Mini World Cup’ for a third time.

Shami urges ICC to reconsider saliva rule

Shami, who is currently leading the Indian attack in the absence of injured pace star Jasprit Bumrah, also urged the ICC to give the pacers some much-needed support in an era dominated by batters by reconsidering the saliva ban.

The ICC had barred players from applying saliva on the ball when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a screeching halt in 2020. The rule, which was meant to safeguard players from the disease, was initially introduced on a temporary basis but was later made permanent in September 2022 .

Shami felt revoking the rule would help pacers get some reverse swing with the older ball and make the contest between bat and ball a lot more even.

“We are trying to reverse (swing), but you are not getting the use of saliva into the game. We are constantly appealing to allow the use of saliva, and it will be interesting with the reverse swing.

“I am trying to get my rhythm back and contribute more to the team. It is a responsibility when there are no two proper pacers, and I have to shoulder more responsibility…There is a load when you are the one main pacer, and the other is an all-rounder. You have to pick wickets and lead from the front,” said Shami, who was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup in India.