As Australia and South Africa prepare for their Champions Trophy semi-final encounters, their travel plans are in doubt due to the uncertainty about their match venues. Both sides will depart for Dubai in preparation for the knockout phase, even though there is a chance that they may be back in Pakistan within 24 hours in case of a semi-final match there.
Australia & South Africa In Semis
Australia guaranteed their final four spot on Friday when their group-stage game against Afghanistan was washed out, and South Africa nailed their semi-final spot on Saturday. The first semi-final will be played in Dubai on Tuesday, while the second semi-final will be held in Lahore on Wednesday. Since India is already guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals and chose not to travel to Pakistan, Rohit Sharma’s team will stay back in Dubai.
Where Will The Semi-Final Take Place?
But with Group A to be concluded, Australia and South Africa have a logistical problem in that they won’t yet know where their semi-final will be staged when it happens on Sunday when India play New Zealand in their concluding group-stage match.
If they wait till Monday for official word, they stand to miss important training sessions in Dubai, where India has hosted all their games. According to a BBC report, Australia will travel from Lahore to Dubai on Saturday, only to perhaps return by Monday if they have a game to play in Lahore. South Africa will also leave for Dubai on Sunday, but they too could return to Pakistan the following day.
Also Read: Champions Trophy: Shreyas Iyer Surprises Net Bowler With A Generous Gift Ahead Of IND Vs NZ Match
Logical Difficulties Arising Again
The confusion over the timing has also initiated debates regarding the logistical difficulties of the tournament. With the semi-finals nearing quickly, both sides are preparing for a chaotic and unpredictable travel routine. Meanwhile, everyone is keeping an eye on India’s vital encounter with New Zealand, which will finally decide the semi-final fixtures.
