India's pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has acknowledged that playing all of their Champions Trophy matches at a single venue in Dubai has provided his team with a competitive advantage.
Shami, who returned figures of 3-48 in India’s four-wicket semifinal victory over Australia on Tuesday, said that familiarity with the Dubai International Cricket Stadium conditions and pitch behavior was beneficial.
“It definitely helped us because we know the conditions and the behavior of the pitch,” he said after the victory over Australia.
Shami, 34, had previously claimed a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in India's opening match of the tournament. His pace and accuracy have been key to the team’s success.
In addition, Shami raised concerns about the ongoing ban on using saliva to shine the ball in ODIs, a measure introduced during the Covid pandemic and made permanent by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2022.
He expressed his belief that allowing the use of saliva would help fast bowlers generate reverse swing, a crucial aspect of their bowling strategy. “We are constantly appealing to allow the use of saliva, and it will be interesting with the reverse swing,” Shami remarked.
While the use of saliva remains banned, players are still allowed to use sweat to shine the ball.
Shami’s fitness has also been a topic of discussion after he briefly left the field during the match against Pakistan. However, following two matches in quick succession, including a full 10-over spell against Australia, Shami dispelled concerns about any ongoing fitness issues. “I am trying to get my rhythm back and contribute more for the team,” he said.
India's coach Gautam Gambhir also defended the team's advantage, responding to critics who questioned the fairness of hosting all of India's matches at the same venue.
It should be noted that Indian team has won all four of their games in Dubai, having declined to travel to Pakistan due to political tensions. The team will face either South Africa or New Zealand in the final, also set to take place in Dubai.
The seven other teams in the tournament have had to travel between three Pakistani cities and the UAE, creating logistical challenges.
As part of the tournament's hybrid arrangement, South Africa had to travel to Dubai but then returned to Pakistan without playing any matches. India has been unbeaten in the 10 ODIs they have played in Dubai, winning nine of those.
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