Stage set in Karachi today, India waits in Dubai as hybrid Champions Trophy kickstarts

Up until 2027, both teams with storied history — which can’t avoid facing each other in global events because of the revenue they generate – will play each other only at neutral venues. The first of such fixtures is scheduled for Sunday, with thousands expected to fly down from world over for the cricketing El Clasico.

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“It’s quite sad that it has come to this,” Mudassar Nazar, a Pakistan veteran of many battles against India at home, away, and in neutral Sharjah, laments.

“More than the players, it is the public who will miss out on the biggest fixture in cricket,” he tells The Indian Express. “There are millions who are waiting to see Kohli and Bumrah play in Lahore and they would spend big money to watch them in flesh. The soul of this contest is the fans – a neutral venue can never match that. In the 2023 World Cup, we all saw how well the Pakistan team was received by Indian fans. Those moments will stay with everyone – fans and players.”

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After the Indian government’s refusal to send the team to Pakistan, which is the actual host with Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi splitting 9 matches among them, the rest of the fixtures involving India will take place in Dubai.

This is a peak tourist season in Dubai, where the locals are being overwhelmed with endless festivals — with Ramadan around the corner — and the India vs Pakistan cricketing clash undoubtedly adding more excitement.

While India and Pakistan squaring off in the UAE is not new, there is a whole different feel to it this time. In big tournaments, where at least one India vs Pakistan match is guaranteed these days, the expectation from both sides of the border has always been about wanting more, a dream final. When the Champions Trophy was last played in 2017, the final between the two at The Oval was the icing on the cake for the hosts and organisers.

However, this time, such a dream run is Pakistan’s worst nightmare waiting to happen. If India goes all the way to the final, the business end of the Champions Trophy will take place in Dubai and thereby rob Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium a chance to host its biggest game ever since Arjuna Ranatunga’s daredevils humbled the Aussies in the 1996 ODI World Cup.

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Even from an organisers point of view, this hybrid model, brings its own share of challenges. Match officials from India – umpire Nitin Menon and match referee Javagal Srinath – have decided against travelling to Pakistan. When India hosts ICC events in future, the same can be expected from Pakistan’s end.

Two different guest lists

Even plans for a captains’ photoshoot, which was in the pipeline, never materialised as it had to happen without Rohit Sharma. And for the final, which could either take place in Dubai or Lahore, it is understood that two different guest lists are being prepared for the prize distribution ceremony with the ICC Chair Jay Shah unlikely to travel to Pakistan. If the final takes place in Lahore, it is likely to be headlined by their head of state.

If all of this doesn’t complicate, adding to the intrigue is the weather in Dubai which has witnessed scattered showers over the past couple of days. It has led to the locals fearing a repeat of the 2024 floods, which brought the city to a standstill. On Tuesday, the square remained under covers before a heavy evening spell lashed the Dubai Sports City, where the stadium is situated. With India picking five spinners and just three seamers, gloomy conditions could thwart all their plans.

New Zealand players during an evening training session at the National Stadium, Karachi. (PHOTO: REUTERS)

On Wednesday, when Pakistan take on New Zealand at Karachi in the opening fixture, their shoulders would definitely weigh a lot heavier with the burden of expectations. For if they get off on the wrong foot, India has a chance to make it worse on Sunday and all of Pakistan’s worst fears could come true. Given the magnitude of the contest, several are already heading to Dubai with the expectations being sky high.

Absence of Bumrah

With a strong squad at their disposal and despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India have a chance to spoil the moment that Pakistan has been waiting for nearly 30 years. And with Pakistan also not looking in the best of form in recent times, those fears are not misplaced. On YouTube, several of Pakistan players are already questioning their selection, wondering how they will even face a strong Indian side with just one specialist spinner.

A couple of Pakistan cab drivers in Dubai even ask a pointed question, “What is Faheem Ashraf doing in this team? Where is the chacha (Iftikhar Ahmed)? This team is ruined because of board politics,” one alleges. “I’ve previously seen them play here, but not this time,” says another fan.

In 2023, a sleepy town of Pallekele came to a standstill and so did the Big Apple in 2024. Neutral venues to both these teams isn’t new. But only this time, it adds new plot to this age-old rivalry.