ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Are the teams really tired of traveling? Check details

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has seen teams crisscrossing between Pakistan and UAE, with travel distances becoming a point of discussion. India, which played all their matches in Dubai, benefited from minimal travel, having to cover zero kilometres. This led to debates about potential advantages, with critics suggesting that such a setup could be seen as unfair to other teams. However, no official objections were raised before the tournament regarding the scheduling or travel arrangements.

On the other hand, other teams had significant travel distances to cover between various venues. England, for instance, played all their group-stage matches in Pakistan before being eliminated, covering around 1,020 km in total. Pakistan, the host nation, played matches in Karachi, Dubai, and Rawalpindi, covering approximately 3,133 km, which is a significant distance considering the scale of the tournament. Afghanistan's travel included a match in Karachi followed by several games in Lahore, resulting in around 1,200 km of travel.

While travel can play a role in team fatigue and logistics, it’s important to note that players regularly face long-distance travel during franchise leagues like the IPL without major complaints. Ultimately, the extensive travel for some teams adds an interesting dynamic to the tournament, highlighting the challenges faced by different teams in terms of both travel and performance. Bangladesh began their campaign in Dubai against India before heading to Rawalpindi for their next two group-stage matches, covering a total of about 1,953 km. Australia also had a significant travel schedule, starting in Lahore, then moving to Rawalpindi, returning to Lahore, and finally traveling to Dubai for their semi-final. The total distance covered by the Australian team during their journey amounted to roughly 2,509 km.

South Africa had a similarly hectic travel schedule, playing four matches across different venues but boarding five flights in the process. They traveled between Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Dubai, before heading back to Lahore for their semi-final against New Zealand. In total, South Africa’s travel distance for the tournament came to approximately 3,286 km.

The extensive travel experienced by these teams highlights the logistical challenges faced during the Champions Trophy 2025. While some teams, like India, enjoyed a more localized schedule, others had to navigate significant distances, which could impact their energy and focus throughout the tournament. Despite these challenges, the teams continued to perform at a high level, making it an exciting and unpredictable contest.

New Zealand had the most extensive travel schedule in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, covering a total distance of 7,048 km. Their campaign took them across four different cities: Karachi, Rawalpindi, Dubai, and Lahore. The Kiwis began their journey in Karachi before moving to Rawalpindi for their next set of matches. They then made their way to Dubai and Lahore for further fixtures, with the final leg of their journey bringing them back to Dubai to face India in the grand finale.