Cricket fans now have their eyes on the Champions Trophy. This is the biggest cricket tournament of the year 2025, which will start on 19 February in Karachi, which will be played till 9 March. Pakistan is hosting this tournament. But Team India will not tour its neighboring country. In such a situation, Champions Trophy 2025 will be played on hybrid model and Team India will play all its matches in Dubai and the remaining matches will be played in Pakistan only. However, some former players of Pakistan termed this decision wrong. He believes that due to the hybrid model, Team India will get more benefits than other teams, which is wrong for other teams.

Will Team India benefit from the hybrid model?

Actually, a total of 8 teams will play in the Champions Trophy, which have been divided into 2 groups. Team India is in Group A with Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. In such a situation, the teams of Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand will have to go to Dubai for their matches against India. But Team India will not have to travel for any match. Even if it reaches the semi-finals and finals, it will play in Dubai only and the other teams will have to travel. In such a situation, some former players of Pakistan believe that this is unfair for other teams. At the same time, Team India will get unfair advantage.

Pakistani cricketers raised questions

Former Pakistan bowler Salim Altaf told 'Dawn', 'India is the only team that knows where it will play the semi-finals and final, whereas the other teams will know this only when the group stage is completed.' Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam also agreed with Altaf, saying that India will have the advantage of playing in similar conditions at the same venue throughout the tournament, and they also do not have to worry about travel. Speaking to Dawn, Alam said, 'Like other teams, India too will not move from one place to another. With this, they will get similar pitches and cricket environment at one place. This is not fair for other teams. It is surprising to me that the rest of the cricket boards did not raise any objection.

Team India's match schedule

Champions Trophy was started in the year 1998. At the same time, this tournament is going to return after eight years. Last time this tournament was held in the year 2017. Team India will make its debut in this tournament from 20th February, in this match it will face Bangladesh. Then Team India will play its second match against Pakistan. This match will be played on 23 February. After this, in its last match of the group, it will face New Zealand on March 2. All these matches will be held in Dubai and even if India reaches the semi-finals, the match will be played in Dubai only. Apart from this, where the final will be held will depend on the matches of Team India. That means, if Team India reaches the final then the match will be held in Dubai, otherwise Pakistan will host the final.