A British newspaper sharply criticized the influence of Indian interests on the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, accusing the International Cricket Council (ICC) of compromising the integrity of the sport to benefit India.
The editorial highlights the unprecedented nature of this influence, asserting that no other country has ever wielded such power over a global sporting event.
The article claims that India’s actions are preventing Pakistan from hosting the final of the Champions Trophy, despite Lahore being slated as the venue.
This decision, the paper argues, sets a dangerous precedent in the world of sports, where one nation can dictate the location of a final based on its own interests.
The venue uncertainty has left both fans and organizers in a state of limbo, as the final’s location will not be confirmed until March 4—just five days before the match.
This situation is described as having "no parallel anywhere in the sporting world."
Lahore, which hosted the 1996 World Cup final, is once again preparing to welcome the event, but with the ongoing uncertainty, local supporters are left wondering if the final will even take place in their city.
The editorial also references the controversial decisions surrounding the Champions Trophy’s original venue selection.
When Pakistan was awarded hosting rights for the 2025 edition, it was under the condition that all 15 matches, including the final, would take place in the country.
At that time, no provisions were made for India to play its matches elsewhere.
This has led to frustration among the other participating nations, as they now find themselves uncertain about where their knockout matches will be played, while India already knows where it will play its semi-final and final.
The piece draws attention to a pattern of sacrificing the integrity of international cricket events to favor India.
In the 2019 World Cup, India’s matches were scheduled in a way that allowed them to take an eight-day break after the tournament began, while other teams like South Africa had to play their third match during the same period.
Furthermore, the editorial points to how scheduling decisions in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups seemed tailored to India’s needs, with their final group-stage matches placed at the end to maximize their run rate.
This year, in the T20 World Cup, India’s semi-final was scheduled in Guyana without regard for group positions, further fueling accusations that ICC scheduling is swayed by Indian interests.
India will reportedly prepare its squad based on the conditions of one country, while the other seven participating nations are forced to consider the conditions of two countries for their squad selections.
For the unversed, the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be played across hosts Pakistan and a neutral venue, as confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday.
This decision is part of a broader arrangement where matches between India and Pakistan at ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at neutral locations, ensuring logistical and security feasibility.
The ‘fusion formula’ will apply to major ICC tournaments after the Champions Trophy, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (to be hosted by India) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka).
Under this formula, the knockout-stage matches, including the final, will be played at a neutral venue if India and Pakistan qualify.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.
