New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has hit out at the ICC over his team’s exhausting travel schedule ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 final against India. While India has played all its matches in Dubai, the Blackcaps have been forced to shuttle between Karachi, Rawalpindi, Dubai, and Lahore before returning to Dubai for the final.
Criticizing the scheduling, Stead remarked, “There’s no doubt that coming here after Lahore – we had a full day of travel yesterday – takes it out of you a little bit.” Though he stopped short of outright accusing the ICC, his frustration over the apparent imbalance was evident.
“We can’t control these decisions, so it’s just about getting on with it,” he added, indirectly pointing to the advantage India has had by staying in one venue throughout the tournament.
With the title clash set for March 9, New Zealand not only has to deal with travel fatigue but also the challenge of adjusting to Dubai’s spin-friendly conditions after playing a high-scoring semi-final in Lahore.
