Follow UsIn a bizarre situation, both South Africa and Australia, two teams certain to make it to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025 from group B, will have to travel to Dubai, where one of the two semi-finals involving India is scheduled to be played.
The other semi-final will be played in Lahore. While South Africa are playing a game on March 1 (Saturday) against England, they, along with Australia, will move to Dubai where an India-New Zealand match will be played on March 2 (Sunday).
According to an ICC official, the decision was taken to give the team which will play the semi-final against India on March 4, the optimal time to prepare in familiar conditions.
“An ICC official said the decision had been taken to allow the side that plays the semi-final in Dubai on March 4 the maximum time to prepare for that contest,” ESPN Cricinfo wrote in a report.
Since Australia have already left for Dubai, South Africa will do so after the match. Who will play India in Dubai will be decided after the India-New Zealand game.
Should India win, the second placed of the two between the Proteas and the Kangaroos will stay in Dubai while the other will come back and play its semi-final against New Zealand in Lahore. If India lose and finish second, then the first-placed team from Group B will stay in Dubai.
All this confusion was created after the ICC brought in a rule allowing India to play their matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan, where the entire tournament is being hosted. If India win their semi-final and qualify for the final, it will be played in Dubai and not Pakistan, the host country.