The Indian cricket team has landed in Dubai to prepare for the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which begins tomorrow in Pakistan and the UAE.
Their arrival follows a disappointing tour of Australia, where they lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1, leading to intense scrutiny and multiple review meetings by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
BCCI’s New Travel Policy
In response to the poor performance in Australia, the BCCI introduced a ten-point guideline document aimed at revamping team management and restructuring strategies.
One of the major changes initially imposed was a strict ban on players’ families accompanying them on tour. As a result, Indian players traveled to Dubai without their spouses and loved ones.
However, according to Dainik Jagran, the BCCI is reconsidering this policy. The board is reportedly considering allowing players' families to attend at least one match during the tournament. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has been in discussions with senior board officials regarding this matter. Given the short duration of the tournament, players may request prior approval for their families to attend a single game.
India’s Matches and Special Scheduling Agreement
Due to a ‘fusion formula’ agreed upon by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), BCCI, and the International Cricket Council (ICC), India will play all its matches in Dubai. This means that even if India reaches the knockout stages, they will not travel to Pakistan, unlike the other seven teams in the tournament.
The Champions Trophy 2025 will kick off on February 19 in Karachi, with defending champions Pakistan facing New Zealand. India's first match is against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on February 23.
India Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
India’s Champions Trophy Schedule
- 20 February: India vs Bangladesh – Dubai
- 23 February: India vs Pakistan – Dubai
- 2 March: India vs New Zealand – Dubai
