The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has seen a stark contrast in team travel schedules, with distances ranging from zero to over 7,000 km. While some teams moved across multiple venues, others remained at a single location, raising concerns about fairness.
India, due to geopolitical reasons, played all its matches in Dubai, avoiding travel altogether. In contrast, New Zealand covered the most distance, traveling 7,048 km across Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Dubai. South Africa and Pakistan also faced significant travel burdens, covering 3,286 km and 3,133 km, respectively.
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This scheduling disparity has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that India’s stationary schedule gave them an undue advantage in terms of recovery and preparation. Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan highlighted the issue on social media, questioning whether travel distances influenced tournament outcomes.
Although no official complaints were filed before the tournament, the discussion raises concerns about logistical fairness in global competitions. With travel fatigue playing a role in player performance, future ICC tournaments may need to reassess their scheduling strategies.
