New Delhi: The tangled scheduling of the semi-finals in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 means both Australia and South Africa will have to travel to Dubai ahead of the semi-finals of the tournament. Australia and South Africa are the two teams that have qualified for the knockout phase from Group B while India and New Zealand are into the semi-finals from Group A.
Australia’s game against Afghanistan was washed out on Friday, resulting in the two teams sharing points which confirmed the Aussies’ spot in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, South Africa hammered England by 7 wickets in their final group-stage game on Saturday to top Group B and reach the semi-finals.
However, since the final top two standings in Group A are yet to be decided with India scheduled to take on New Zealand in their final group match on Sunday, both Australia and South Africa will have to travel to Dubai to have the maximum possible time to prepare in case they land India in the semi-finals.
Currently, the first semi-final between the Group A toppers and Australia (2nd team from Group B) is scheduled to take place in Dubai on Tuesday, March 04, while the second semi-final between Group B toppers and the second team from Group A is scheduled to be held in Lahore on Wednesday, March 05. However, it remains to be seen where India will finish in Group A and who they will face in the semi-finals.
Thus, both Australia and South Africa will have to travel to Dubai to ensure they get enough time for preparation in case they have to face India in the semi-finals. This would also mean that one of the two teams will fins themselves in a suboptimal position of leaving Pakistan for Dubai, only to return a day later if they get New Zealand in the semi-final, which will be played in Lahore.
Why India are not playing in Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2025?
It was evident right from the beginning of the tournament that such a scenario would arise where both semi-finalists from Group B would have to travel to Dubai due to the semi-finals happening in two countries. India refused to play in Pakistan after BCCI made it clear that they wouldn’t send the team to the neighbouring country citing security concerns and lack of permission from the government.
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket against each other for over a decade due to suspended ties over political tensions between the two countries. The two teams meet only in ICC tournaments. After BCCI refused to send Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, the PCB also insisted that they won’t travel to India for the T20 World Cup in 2026 and that their matches will be played at a neutral venue.
Both South Africa and Australia will have to travel to Dubai before the start of the knockout stage of the Champions Trophy 2025 due to scrambled schedule of the tournament. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
