India was too good for New Zealand in the final group stage match of the tournament on Monday morning (AEDT) with spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul helping the team to a comfortable 44-run win at Dubai International Stadium. Watch live coverage of the 2025 Women’s Premier League cricket on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer > The match between India and New Zealand decided the fates of Australia and South Africa with both countries having flown to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday in case India emerged as the top-ranked team in Group A. Rohit Sharma’s team has been enjoying the controversial luxury this tournament of playing all its matches in Dubai with the ICC accepting a demand made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Australia will have just two days to adjust to the different conditions that will be served up in Dubai, while South Africa has also been given the run-around of flying to Dubai before now needing to make the 2000km flight back to Pakistan for Wednesday’s second semi-final in Lahore. The Indian government banned the national team from travelling to Pakistan due to political tensions and security concerns. India has subsequently received the added benefit of training and playing in the same city across the campaign without needing to travel. India will have played each of their three group-stage matches at Dubai International Stadium, while their opponent will have only been in the country for two days, foxsports.com.au’s Nic Savage reports. The clear advantage India will have when the first ball is bowled on Tuesday pours fuel on the burning controversy that has surrounded India’s “home stadium” in the UAE. BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew said the scheduling has “got a bit crazy”. “India are camped out in Dubai, playing in the same ground and same places, in the changing room,” he said. “Both Australia and South Africa will fly to Dubai but only one will play there and the other will get back on a plane to Lahore. “It’s all got a bit crazy.” When asked about the sub-optimal travel arrangements, Australian vice-captain Travis Head acknowledged the difference in conditions between Lahore and Dubai, with the scheduling impeding the team’s preparation. “We’ll watch the next couple of days, stay relaxed and then get to work. I guess there’ll be two different scenarios where it could be two different conditions,” Head said. “Whether we go to Dubai and play there, which looks like it’s a little bit more difficult or more challenging pitch than is here (in Lahore). It’s a little bit more low-scoring. “We’ll prepare as well as we can, so we’ll see how we go.” Earlier this week, South African batter Rassie van der Dussen said the tournament scheduling gave India an effective home advantage without being the host nation., acknowledging the uneven playing field. “If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practice in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it’s definitely an advantage,” van der Dussen remarked. “I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that.” Earlier in the tournament, Aussie Test captain Pat Cummins also said it was a “benefit” for India to play all their matches at the same venue. “I think it’s good in that the tournament can go on, but obviously it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground,” he told Yahoo. “They already look very strong and they’ve got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there.” Veteran England cricket commentator Agnew earlier slammed the scheduling of the tournament. “I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment,” he told ABC Sport. “This is wrong; if you’re going to play international tournaments, you can’t pick and choose where you play and where you’re not going to play. “I don’t see how long this can carry on for? It makes a farce of these tournaments.” Leading cricket journalist Gideon Haigh told ABC Offsiders last week the (BCCI) can do whatever it likes because the nation is the foremost superpower in world cricket. “It’s the ‘where does an 800-pound gorilla sit? The answer is anywhere it likes’,” Haigh said. “And that’s the case with India where they can pretty much dictate the terms. “So India are playing all their games in Dubai for confusing reasons. The BCCI is saying the government are saying you can’t go to play cricket in Pakistan. But the government is saying the BCCI has cited security concerns about India going. So no one can quite get their story straight. And of course no one has to because India does what it like.” The final of the tournament will also be played in Dubai if India makes it all the way. Australia moved through to the semi-finals despite its final two matches being abandoned due to rain. Australia defeated India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final and revenge will be on captain Rohit Sharma’s mind. “Australia has a rich history of playing ICC tournaments well, but it is about us and what we want to do well on that particular day,” said Rohit. “It will be a great contest, looking forward to that. Hopefully we can stitch one towards us.” — with AFP and foxsports.com.au