India-Pakistan Match in Dubai Sparks Controversy: ‘Makes a Farce of the Tournament,’ Says Agnew

India and Pakistan’s Champions Trophy clash is being held in Dubai, despite Pakistan being the official host, due to the BCCI’s refusal to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns from the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team. An agreement between the ICC, BCCI, and PCB allows India to play all its matches at neutral venues until 2027. Former England cricketer Jonathan Agnew criticized this arrangement, calling it unfair and damaging to the integrity of international tournaments. While Pakistan must travel between venues, India remains stationed in the UAE throughout the event.

Agnew questioned how a host nation could be forced to play its biggest match away from home. Political tensions continue to impact cricketing ties, preventing bilateral series between the two nations. Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq criticized the BCCI, accusing it of unfair conduct. Ironically, the 2025 Champions Trophy will mark Pakistan’s first time hosting an ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.

India-Pakistan Match in Dubai Sparks Controversy: ‘Makes a Farce of the Tournament,’ Says Agnew

When Pakistan faces India in their highly anticipated Champions Trophy clash tonight, the match will take place at a neutral venue—a decision former England cricketer and commentator Jonathan Agnew has criticized as “farcical.”

Despite Pakistan being the official host of the tournament, all of India’s matches are being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE. This arrangement stems from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refusing to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns following the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team in Lahore.

A prior agreement between the BCCI, International Cricket Council (ICC), and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ensures that India and Pakistan will not be required to play in each other’s countries for any ICC tournaments until 2027. This applies to the current Champions Trophy, the upcoming women’s Cricket World Cup, and next year’s men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Agnew expressed his discontent with the situation, arguing that international tournaments lose credibility when teams can dictate where they play. “This is wrong. If you’re playing international tournaments, you shouldn’t be able to pick and choose venues,” he told ABC Sport. He further questioned how long such arrangements could continue, calling them detrimental to the integrity of the game.

Pakistan, after opening the tournament with a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in Karachi, traveled to Dubai to face India and will then return to Rawalpindi for their match against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Australia will play its group-stage matches in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, while India remains stationed in the UAE, having already secured a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Agnew also criticized the situation from Pakistan’s perspective. “How can the host nation, after so long without an international tournament, be forced to play its biggest match away from home? It’s simply not right,” he said.

India and Pakistan’s cricketing ties have long been influenced by political tensions, particularly since the 2009 attack in Lahore. While Pakistan toured India in 2012/13, India has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Even during the 2023 Asia Cup, which Pakistan hosted, India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka.

Agnew believes that the ongoing political standoff is robbing cricket of one of its greatest rivalries. “This can’t go on. Cricket is shooting itself in the foot by keeping two of its biggest teams apart due to politics,” he said.

The last India-Pakistan encounter took place at the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, where the Pakistan Cricket Board later lodged an official complaint with the ICC over alleged misconduct by the crowd.

As anticipation builds for tonight’s match, former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq urged his team to take a stand. Speaking to Pakistan’s 24 Digital Channel, he criticized the BCCI’s approach, stating, “Every child in Pakistan wants to see Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah play, but [India’s] tantrums just don’t end. I don’t know what they are trying to achieve.”

Ironically, the 2025 Champions Trophy marks Pakistan’s first time hosting an ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.