India and New Zealand have secured their places in the Champions Trophy semi-finals by winning two games in a row in Group A. India beat Bangladesh and Pakistan, while New Zealand easily beat Pakistan and Bangladesh to move to the next stage.
One key difference is that India will play all their matches in Dubai. The other teams will play in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. India will also play their semi-final in Dubai, and if all goes well for the Rohit Sharma-led team, the final will be held at the Dubai International Stadium. Otherwise, the final will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said they cannot travel to Pakistan due to safety concerns.
Pat Cummins, who missed the Champions Trophy because of an ankle injury and the birth of his daughter, mentioned that India has an advantage since they play in just one location.
“I think it’s good that the tournament can continue, but it definitely gives India a big advantage by playing all their games on the same ground. They already look very strong and have that clear benefit,” Cummins told Yahoo Sport Australia.
Cummins will return next month in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He led SRH to the final last season, although they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
He added, “It has been nice to be at home, and my ankle is healing well. I will start running and bowling this week. With the IPL next month, followed by the Test World Championship and a tour to the West Indies, there’s a lot to look forward to.” This explains why he decided to skip the eight-team ODI tournament.
In his absence, Steve Smith is leading the Australian team. The ODI World Cup champions won their opening game against England in Lahore, chasing a target of 352 with Josh Inglis scoring an unbeaten 120 (off 86 balls) and breaking several records in the process.
