Champions Trophy 2025: Michael Atherton on India-Pakistan rivalry, Men in Blue playing all matches in Dubai

Former England captain Michael Atherton commented on the current state of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry following India's recent victory in Dubai.
India secured a six-wicket win, with 45 balls to spare, against Pakistan in their Group A match of the ongoing Champions Trophy on Sunday.
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"Well, it was completely one-sided. It looked very predictable from a long way out. An underpowered Pakistan batting line-up, as it was in that first game, actually, against New Zealand. There just seemed to lack a bit of energy and dynamism in the batting," Atherton said on the Sky Sports Podcast.
Atherton shared his thoughts about the match expectations and reality.

"There' a bit of an issue for that contest, isn't it? Because it's a highly anticipated contest for all kinds of reasons. Partly, you know, just because of the scarcity value. They only play each other in ICC events on neutral territory for obvious reasons. But there's such hype around that fixture. You kind of want the cricket to live up to that hype as well."
The former England captain analysed the recent history of India-Pakistan encounters.
"If you look at the results in the last 10 years, I think they've played each other nine times in ODIs in the last 10 years. Pakistan have only won once, and that was in that final in the Champions Trophy at the Oval. So, it's a one-sided contest right now. But, you know, I looked at the numbers."

Atherton also highlighted the historical performance between the two teams.
"Since the start of 2000, actually, Pakistan have been very competitive in ODIs against India. I think they've kind of won 26, lost 30, something like that. But in the last 10 years, in those nine games, it's pretty much all gone India's way with one exception."
'Undeniable advantage'
Nasser Hussain and Atherton said India have "undeniable advantage" of playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai. India are playing all their matches, including a potential final, at the neutral venue in Dubai due to security concerns.
“What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage,” said Atherton.

“They’re playing at just one venue. They don’t have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do.
“Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus in on the conditions in Dubai. And obviously, they’ll know where they’re playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage,” he added.
Hussain said India have been smart with their selections and their decision to go with five-spinners in the squad makes sense.
“It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament have that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying ‘Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.’ It sums it up really,” he said.
“They are at one place, one hotel, they don’t have to travel. They have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch.
“They were very smart in their selection. They probably knew what Dubai is going to be like. They picked all their spinners. there was a bit of debate with Indian media saying why don’t you have gone for an extra seamer? Why all these spinners? Now we can seen why.

“For example the other sides like England if they do get to the semis they have only one spinner (Rehan Ahmed is added as replacement of Brydon Carse), Pakistan have one frontline spinner. You can says that when the injuries came they should have change that and I have made that argument.
“Other teams will have to pick playing XIs for different conditions in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi and then they have to travel and adjust to those conditions.
“So it is an advantage but what else could have happened. Once India refused to come to Pakistan, what could have happen. You can’t have a tournament like this without India-Pakistan. It had to be in Dubai.
“They sit happily and comfortably there. They know they are going to play six games there and if they will win all those, they will win another global tournament,” he said.