MITCHELL JOHNSON: Virat Kohli’s India playing Champions Trophy games in Dubai not Pakistan is not a good look

The 2025 Champions Trophy has generated quite a bit of discussion, particularly about India’s arrangement to play in Abu Dhabi not Pakistan which allows them to play on the same pitch for the entire tournament.

Many respected voices have pointed out that this seems unfair to the other teams and it’s an argument that has legitimate weight despite the obvious security concerns India has about playing in Pakistan.

This isn’t the first time the governing body has come under fire for how it handles matters related to India and it raises questions about the overall integrity of the tournament.

As for the current players, it’s likely they feel a mix of annoyance and frustration about the situation. However, they’ll have to compartmentalise their feelings to maintain focus on their objective: winning games and, ultimately, the tournament.

The politics of sport can be distracting and players who allow themselves to be drawn into it risk losing sight of their primary goals.

This situation also brings up several questions regarding the tournament’s fairness, especially as the finals approach. Currently, the fixture lists the venue of the finals as “TBA,” which leaves the ICC time to see which teams advance and where they will come from.

Historical context is important too, for instance, during the 2015 World Cup New Zealand played all their group matches at home but encountered challenges when they reached the finals in Melbourne, where they hadn’t played prior and faced different conditions.

The dynamics of tournament locations and preparations can greatly impact team performance. It makes sense for international teams to adapt to varying conditions, as this is part of the game. However, having tournaments in the same country can help ensure fairness and consistency in playing conditions, which is crucial for a level playing field.

If the finals end up in Dubai, teams will definitely need to be prepared to travel quickly and adjust to the local conditions, which can be a significant challenge.

The ability to adapt is important but it is equally critical to maintain some uniformity in tournament logistics to uphold the integrity of the competition.

Many expected a strong turnout in Pakistan, given the passion for cricket there, but perhaps external factors played a role in the attendance.

While stadiums may not be packed, there’s likely still a significant viewership at home, especially with so many platforms available for fans to catch the action.

I’ve found it tough to watch with the late afternoon start times in Perth and with commitments of my kids’ sports, it can be tough to find the perfect moment to settle down and watch a match.

It’ll definitely be fascinating to see the overall viewing figures once the tournament is concluded, particularly as thrilling matches like the Australia and England game, which could boost interest in one-day international cricket longer term.

As for the comments from the England camp, it’s always intriguing how psychological games play out in cricket, especially leading up to a big series like the Ashes later this year.

Australian players would have seen England’s reaction and feeling they “deserved” to win, it will fuel their motivation for the Ashes.

It seems like England is grappling with some doubts, especially after Afghanistan bundled them out of the Champions Trophy overnight.

The recent loss to Australia might hint at an underlying pressure within their ranks, and it’ll be interesting to see how they respond moving forward.

Although it was just one of those games in ODIs where Australia won the big moments and backed there batting line-up with the impressive century form Josh Inglis, who has really found his groove.

England’s dynamics of their playing style and mindset will be crucial as they prepare for tougher competitions ahead, especially against teams that have figured out ways to counter their strategies in the longer form more so.

After the washout with South Africa, Australia finds itself in a strong position.

However, they can’t take Afghanistan lightly, they have a talented squad and will be confident against Australia after beating them in the T20 World Cup last year.

Australia usually thrives in pressure situations and big tournaments, but Afghanistan will be coming in without the weight of expectation, which can make them a dangerous opponent.

In Australia’s only game so far, they showed that chasing can be a favourable tactic, especially with dew making the ball harder to grip for bowlers later in the match.

Winning the toss will be crucial, but the pitches generally favour batting with consistent bounce and little seam movement, which usually leads to higher scores. Overall, it’s shaping up to be an interesting matchup, and both teams will need to bring their A-game.