Mon Mar 03 08:28:03 UTC 2025: ## India Advances to Champions Trophy Semifinals Amidst Controversy

**Dubai, UAE** – India secured their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals on Sunday with an undefeated record, defeating New Zealand in their third consecutive victory in Dubai. However, their dominant performance has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding the tournament’s hybrid format, which saw all of India’s matches played in Dubai due to the Indian government’s refusal to allow the team to travel to Pakistan.

This scheduling decision has drawn criticism from former and current players, including ex-England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton, and current players Jos Buttler and Rassie van der Dussen, who voiced concerns about an unfair advantage for India. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly countered these claims, suggesting India would have scored even more runs had they played on Pakistani pitches.

Despite the controversy, India faces a formidable challenge in their upcoming semifinal clash against Australia on Tuesday. Australia, though missing key players Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, demonstrated their resilience with a stunning 352-run chase against England recently. India will rely on their strong spin attack and familiarity with the Dubai conditions to overcome a poor record against Australia in ICC knockout matches. Their last knockout victory over Australia in an ICC event dates back to the 2011 World Cup quarterfinals, having suffered losses in the 2015 World Cup semifinals, the 2023 World Cup final, and the 2023 World Test Championship final.

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