The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is making headlines—but not just for the on-field action. Instead, a storm is brewing over the tournament’s bizarre scheduling, with South African batter David Miller adding his voice to the growing chorus of criticism. After South Africa’s grueling semifinal loss to Australia, Miller called out the ICC, raising serious concerns over the logistics that forced his team into unnecessary travel while India enjoyed the luxury of playing all their games in Dubai.
The controversy stems from the ICC’s decision to schedule all of India’s matches in Dubai, while other teams—including South Africa and Australia—had to crisscross between Pakistan and Dubai. This led to a travel nightmare for the Proteas, who had to fly to Dubai for a potential semifinal, only to be sent back to Pakistan when India’s victory over New Zealand changed the matchups.
Miller, whose stunning century went in vain in South Africa’s 50-run loss, minced no words about the travel woes. “It’s only an hour and 40-minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal,” he admitted. He described how, after a game, the team had to take an early morning flight, landed in Dubai at 4:00 PM, and then had to return to Pakistan by 7:30 AM. “It doesn’t make it nice,” he added, emphasizing the toll this took on the team’s recovery and preparation.
Meanwhile, India, unbothered by travel fatigue, remained comfortably in Dubai throughout the tournament. Cricketing legends and fans alike are now questioning whether this was just poor scheduling—or if the ICC deliberately gave India an edge. With high-profile names already raising eyebrows over the scheduling, Miller’s frustration has only fueled speculation.
The ICC, however, has yet to justify its decision, leaving fans to wonder: was this just a logistical blunder, or was the tournament unfairly tilted in India’s favor? One thing’s for sure—the Champions Trophy 2025 may be remembered as much for its off-field controversies as its on-field battles.
