Champions Trophy 2025: Herschelle Gibbs Slams English Experts for Accusing India of Gaining Unfair Advantage in Dubai- Exclusive

Add as a preferred source on Google

South African cricket legend Herschelle Gibbs was unimpressed with remarks of English experts of accusing India gaining an "undeniable advantage" by playing all their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai instead of in Pakistan, who are the hosts of the tournament.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Podcast, former England captain Michael Atherton pointed out that India's fixed schedule at a single venue eliminates travel fatigue and allows the team to tailor their strategies to one set of conditions.

India refused to travel across the border citing terrorist attack threats and ICC granted them to play all their matches in the UAE and the final will also be played there, if they manage to qualify.

"What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage," said Atherton in his discussion with Hussain.

"It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament have that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying 'Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.' It sums it up really," Hussain also said.

However, Herschelle Gibbs was unimpressed with these remarks and dismissed the debate without taking any names, urging teams to focus on their performances instead of external factors.

"Yeah, I've seen those comments. But that's the way it is. You just say the less said the better, you know. Everybody knows that they were going to play in Dubai. Just accept it and play it, you know. Just get on with it," Gibbs told myKhel in an exclusive interaction on the sidelines of the International Masters League (IML).

''I suppose they have to find something to talk about, you know. I'm not one of those. I just, you know, you get on with it and you accept it. But it doesn't make their road any easier, you know, to maybe winning it. But they are playing on the same surfaces, sort of thing, you know. So, I can't be bothered where they play as long as they just play'', he further added.

The Men in Blue have already booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition after back to back wins against Bangladesh and Pakistan, with a match to play against New Zealand in the group phase.

With India being one of the tournament favorites to lift the trophy, the debate over their scheduling advantage continues to stir discussions among cricketing experts and fans alike. However, as Gibbs pointed out, the focus should remain on the game rather than controversies.