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BBC News
06-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Champions Trophy final - who, when & how to follow
After 12 group-stage matches and two semi-finals, the Champions Trophy final is almost upon and New Zealand progressed from Group A together and will meet again in the showpiece game on Sunday after beating Australia and South Africa respectively in the everything you need to know about the final, including how you can follow on the BBC. Champions Trophy final - schedule, date, time & venue Sunday, 9 March: Final - India v New Zealand, Dubai International Stadium, 09:00 GMT When is the Champions Trophy final? The Champions Trophy final is scheduled for Sunday, 9 March. It will start at 09:00 India beat Australia in the last four, the final will take place in Rohit Sharma's side failed to qualify it would have remained in Pakistan and been held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Is there a reserve day? There is a reserve day for the final if the match cannot be completed on Sunday, as there were for both semi-finals, although they were not reserve day for the final is Monday, 10 March (09:00).There is a maximum of two hours of additional time available on both the original day and reserve all knockout games a minimum of 25 overs per side is needed to constitute a match. That is up from 20 in the group stages. The International Cricket Council says "every effort will be made" to complete the match on the scheduled day, including reducing the overs to the minimum play starts on the scheduled day but a reserve day is then required, play will resume from where it stopped, rather than a new match starting. Whether it is a 50-over or reduced-over match depends on whether play resumes in a reduced-over format on the original trophy will be shared if the final is washed out on both the original and reserve with the group stages, any tie would see a super over played. Who are the previous Champions Trophy winners? This year is the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy and these are the previous winners of the tournament:1998: South Africa2000: New Zealand2002: India and Sri Lanka declared co-champions after two finals washed out2004: West Indies2006: Australia2009: Australia2013: India2017: Pakistan How can I follow the Champions Trophy on the BBC? There will be ball-by-ball commentary of the final across BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and of the Test Match Special team include Jonathan Agnew, Vic Marks and Alex BBC Sport website and app will have live text commentary, alongside in-play and post-match video will also be coverage on the BBC Cricket Instagram, external and WhatsApp, external tournament is available to watch live in the UK on Sky Sports.
BBC News
01-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Teams facing 'crazy' Dubai travel plans for semis
Australia and South Africa will travel to Dubai before the Champions Trophy semi-finals, despite not knowing if they will play there or in will host the first semi-final on Tuesday with the second match played in Lahore, Pakistan, a day who are guaranteed to progress from Group A, are playing all of their matches in Dubai after opting not to travel to B concludes with South Africa's match against England on Saturday but neither the Proteas or Australia will know the venue for their semi-final until after the conclusion of India's match against New Zealand on they to wait until Monday and only travel when the fixtures were confirmed, that would rule out the possibility of training in Dubai – where India will have played all three group raises the prospect of Australia taking the three-hour flight from Lahore to Dubai on Saturday, only to have to fly back on Monday if they do not meet South Africa will fly to Dubai in the early hours of Sunday and could return to Pakistan 24 hours later if they do not have to face India. Whichever team finishes second in Group A will meet the winner of Group B and vice-versa. India are guaranteed to play the first semi-final on Tuesday regardless of their group position, has been criticism throughout the tournament of the advantage India hold by playing all of their matches at the have played across the four venues in Pakistan and Dubai."If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practice in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it's definitely an advantage," South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen said earlier this week."I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that."BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew said: "India are camped out in Dubai, playing in the same ground and same places in the changing room. "Both Australia and South Africa will fly to Dubai but only one will play there and the other will get back on a plane to Lahore. It's all got a bit crazy."
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
India slammed for one-venue 'farce' in CT 2025
India in action against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy clash on Sunday. Photo: AFP/File DUBAI The cricket fraternity has slammed India's "undeniable" advantage of playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, while the other seven teams have to shuttle between three venues in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India refused to travel to hosts Pakistan for the tournament, because of security concerns and political tensions, and are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A stand-off between the rivals lasted for more than a month, leaving plans for the tournament in jeopardy until the Pakistan board finally agreed on a compromise with the International Cricket Council (ICC). The deal means Pakistan will play at a neutral venue in any ICC tournament hosted by India until 2027. The decision was reached after Jay Shah - secretary of the powerful BCCI - took over as ICC chairman in December at the headquarters of the sports' governing body in Dubai. "I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment," former England cricketer and popular broadcaster Jonathan Agnew told ABC Sport. "This is wrong. If you're going to play an international tournament you can't pick and choose where you play and where you're not going to play. "I don't see how long this can carry on for? It makes a farce of these tournaments." The playing and pitch conditions in Dubai and the venues in Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi — are drastically different. There has been no dew in Dubai in India's first two wins with the highest total being 244 when Rohit Sharma's team chased down 242 against Pakistan on a sluggish pitch. Totals in Pakistan have been much higher with dew also playing a part, notably when Australia's Josh Inglis hit an unbeaten 120 to chase down a tournament-record 352 against England at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. "What about the advantage India have in playing only in Dubai - which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage?" former England captain Michael Atherton asked Nasser Hussain on the Sky Sports Podcast. "They're playing at just one venue. Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus on the conditions in Dubai," he added. India and New Zealand have moved into the semi-finals from Group A and will play each other in Dubai in the last group match on Sunday. But irrespective of the placing, India will play their semi-final in Dubai on March 4. The final will be played in Lahore on March 9, unless India qualify in which case it will be in Dubai.
Gulf Today
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
India slammed for one-venue 'farce' in Champions Trophy
Former cricketers and pundits have slammed India's "undeniable" advantage of playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai while other teams have to shuttle between three venues in Pakistan and fly to the UAE. India refused to travel to hosts Pakistan for the 50-over tournament because of security concerns and political tensions and are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A stand-off between the rivals lasted for more than a month, leaving the tournament in jeopardy until the Pakistan board agreed a compromise with the International Cricket Council. The deal means Pakistan will play at a neutral venue in any ICC tournament hosted by India until 2027. But in the immediate future it also means that should India reach the Champions Trophy final — they are already in the semis — the decider on March 9 will be in Dubai instead of Lahore. Jay Shah, secretary of the powerful Indian cricket board (BCCI), took over as ICC chairman in December and the country holds immense sway in the running of the sport. The ICC is based in Dubai. "I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment," former England cricketer and popular broadcaster Jonathan Agnew told ABC Sport. "This is wrong. If you're going to play an international tournament you can't pick and choose where you play and where you're not going to play. "I don't see how long this can carry on for. It makes a farce of these tournaments." The playing and pitch conditions in Dubai and the venues in Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi — are drastically different. There has been no dew in Dubai in India's first two wins with the highest total being 244 when Rohit Sharma's team chased down 242 against great rivals Pakistan on a sluggish pitch. Totals in Pakistan have been much higher with dew playing a part, notably when Australia's Josh Inglis hit an unbeaten 120 to chase down a tournament-record 352 against England at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. 'Huge advantage' "What about the advantage India have in playing only in Dubai — which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage?" former England captain Michael Atherton asked Nasser Hussain on a Sky Sports podcast. "They're playing at just one venue. Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus in on the conditions in Dubai." India and New Zealand have moved into the semi-finals from Group A and will play each other in Dubai in the last group match on Sunday. Irrespective of the placing, India will play their semi-final in Dubai on March 4. Australia's injured Pat Cummins missed out on leading his team in the eight-nation tournament — once called the mini World Cup — but weighed in on the debate, saying it gives India "a huge advantage playing on the same ground." Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal agreed, telling AFP: "If they were not coming to Pakistan at least they should have played their matches at three venues in the UAE." However, England skipper Jos Buttler played down the controversy. "Not really," Buttler said after being asked if the schedule gave India an advantage. "I think it's a unique tournament already, isn't it, with being hosted here with one team playing in a different place but that's not something I'm sort of worried too much about at the moment."
Arab News
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
India slammed over ‘undeniable' advantage of playing all Champions Trophy matches in Dubai
DUBAI: Former cricketers and pundits have slammed India's 'undeniable' advantage of playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, while the other seven teams have to shuttle between three venues in Pakistan and the UAE. India refused to travel to hosts Pakistan for the 50-over tournament, because of security concerns and political tensions, and are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A stand-off between the rivals lasted for more than a month, leaving plans for the tournament in jeopardy until the Pakistan board finally agreed a compromise with the International Cricket Council. The deal means Pakistan will play at a neutral venue in any ICC tournament hosted by India until 2027. The decision was reached after Jay Shah — secretary of the powerful BCCI — took over as ICC chairman in December at the headquarters of the sports' governing body in Dubai. 'I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment,' former England cricketer and popular broadcaster Jonathan Agnew told ABC Sport. 'This is wrong. If you're going to play an international tournament you can't pick and choose where you play and where you're not going to play. 'I don't see how long this can carry on for? It makes a farce of these tournaments.' The playing and pitch conditions in Dubai and the venues in Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi — are drastically different. There has been no dew in Dubai in India's first two wins with the highest total being 244 when Rohit Sharma's team chased down 242 against Pakistan on a sluggish pitch. Totals in Pakistan have been much higher with dew also playing a part, notably when Australia's Josh Inglis hit an unbeaten 120 to chase down a tournament-record 352 against England at Lahore's Qaddafi Stadium. 'What about the advantage India have in playing only in Dubai — which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage?' former England captain Michael Atherton asked Nasser Hussain on the Sky Sports Podcast. 'They're playing at just one venue. Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus in on the conditions in Dubai.' India and New Zealand have moved into the semifinals from Group A and will play each other in Dubai in the last group match on Sunday. But irrespective of the placing, India will play their semifinal in Dubai on March 4. The final will be played in Lahore on March 9, unless India qualify in which case it will be in Dubai. Australia's Pat Cummins missed out on leading his team in the eight-nation tournament — once called the mini World Cup — because of an ankle injury, but weighed in on the debate. 'I think it's good in that the tournament can go on, but obviously, it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground,' Cummins told Yahoo Australia. 'They already look very strong, and they have got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there.' However, England skipper Jos Buttler played down the controversy. 'Not really,' Buttler said after being asked if the schedule gave India an advantage. 'I think it's a unique tournament already, isn't it, with being hosted here with one team playing in a different place but that's not something I'm sort of worried too much about at the moment.'
