Dubai: On their way to the pre-tournament team photo session, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja find themselves reminiscing about the number of ICC World Cups they have participated in. Rohit mentions that he has attended nine T20 World Cups, while Jadeja admits he has lost track.

Laughter and light-hearted banter ensue as the cricketers respond to the photographer's directions. “They have called me 17 times for this, to do all this,” Rohit remarks to Jadeja in a BCCI video.

Their experiences have conditioned them to accept the routine of a world tournament and its associated emotions, leading one to question whether their feelings are still genuine.

Competing in an ICC event in Dubai is not a new experience for them. India was present in the city when the 2021 T20 World Cup, originally set to be hosted there, was relocated to the UAE due to the pandemic. Additionally, parts of IPL 2020 and IPL 2021 were also held in Dubai during this period. In 2014, the IPL was moved to the UAE due to the general elections in India.

Long before Dubai became the preferred venue for BCCI and ICC events, it served as the adopted home for Pakistan cricket. Throughout the 2010s, when international cricket faced significant disruptions in Pakistan due to security concerns, matches were held in Dubai. However, this arrangement often felt temporary, with Pakistan playing home Tests in front of largely empty stands.

Dubai is not particularly known for its cricket enthusiasm; rather, it functions as a commercial center for expatriates, with the largest demographic being Indians, followed by Pakistanis. These communities unite as spectators, especially during India-Pakistan matches, which become significant events. Nevertheless, Dubai struggles to elevate these encounters to a truly international level, as was evident during the 2021 T20 World Cup.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Dubai International Airport buzzes with activity, as evidenced by the bustling conveyor belts. Travelers arrive for various reasons: some are here to finalize business agreements, others to attend the upcoming David Gray concert, and some to visit the iconic Burj Khalifa. However, cricket does not seem to be on anyone's agenda.

It is only upon arriving at Dubai Sports City, home to the Dubai International Stadium, that one begins to notice the signs promoting the ICC Champions Trophy, hinting at the significant cricket event set to take place. The stadium, adorned with its dazzling LED lights, state-of-the-art facilities, and vibrant green outfield, is poised to deliver an impressive spectacle for television audiences.

The Dubai segment of the Champions Trophy holds considerable importance within this eight-team tournament. While the Pakistan Cricket Board stands to gain from ticket sales, it would be an exaggeration to refer to Dubai as their true home city.

Due to security issues, India does not travel to Pakistan. At least three of the tournament's 15 matches will occur in Dubai, including India's league matches, one of which is against Pakistan. These matches will take place over a span of ten days, while the remainder of the tournament unfolds in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Additionally, New Zealand and Bangladesh will also make stops in Dubai to compete against India. Should India advance, one semi-final and the final will be hosted here.

The matches in Dubai essentially represent a mini-tournament within the larger event hosted by Pakistan. This scenario mirrors the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where the Indian team traveled extensively to accommodate as many host cities as possible, while Pakistan played in a select number of Indian cities based on their preferences.

In preparation for their tournament opener against Bangladesh on Thursday, the Indian cricket team conducted training sessions at the ICC Academy on Monday, first in the afternoon sunlight and later under artificial lighting. The team observed a day of rest on Tuesday due to the absence of sunshine. Although the drizzly and predominantly cloudy conditions are not optimal for cricket, they do mitigate the likelihood of dew, a factor that India may be cautious about given their selection of a squad rich in spin bowlers.

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