Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer reckons India should have also played in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah to shut down unfair advantage discussions. Cricket experts like Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have said India has an advantage as they are playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.

While the other teams are required to acclimatize to different conditions of three different venues in Pakistan, India doesn’t have to worry about travel and different conditions. Earlier, India decided not to travel to Pakistan, the hosts of the tournament, due to security and political reasons.

Meanwhile, Jaffer noted India played all of their matches in the 2023 ODI World Cup at different venues whereas other teams played two or three matches at a particular venue but the Indian cricket experts didn’t complain about the schedule.

“The ICC should have asked India to play one game in Sharjah, one game in Abu Dhabi, probably allowed them to check in into another hotel. Then probably, this topic wouldn’t have come. If India doesn’t want to go to Pakistan, every country has that choice. India, obviously for political reasons, or government’s involvement doesn’t want to go there,” Jaffer said on ESPN Cricinfo.

“What choices do we have? You obviously want India and Pakistan to play in this tournament. The tournament’s not going to happen without India. Just to silence all these things, India should have played in Abu Dhabi, should have played in Sharjah. Should have checked into another hotel here and there, just to stop this conversation,” the 47-year-old added.

South African batter Rassie van der Dussen also highlighted that India has an advantage of playing at a single venue.

India will next take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on 2nd March.