Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa to take return flight to Lahore from Dubai after semi-final schedule confirmed

After New Zealand confirmed their second spot on the points table following a defeat at the hands of India in the Group A clash, South Africa will now be compelled to take a return flight to Lahore for the game against the BlackCaps. Notably, South Africa would have played the first semi-final in Dubai had New Zealand won the match, however, the two teams will be up against each other at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, March 05.

The call made by the International Cricket Council (ICC), was changed because of the Group A rankings were uncertain. The final standings of teams in that group will only be decided after there's a result to the ongoing match between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DIC). 

"This means we will not know which team (B1 or B2) will need to travel to Dubai until the conclusion of the New Zealand v India match on March 2," an ICC internal communication to teams had stated prior to the clash.

"As a result, to provide equity and as much preparation as possible for all teams, both teams progressing to the semifinals from Group B will travel to Dubai the day after their last group match in Pakistan," it added. 

This arrangement came up from the hybrid pre-tournament model, which gives India to play all of their games including the semi-final and the final (given they qualify) in Dubai.

Australia, standing at the second place in Group B after their league game in Lahore on Friday, February 28, landed in Dubai on a chartered flight at noon on Saturday, March 1. The Steven Smith-led side, will have a training session at the ICC Academy on Sunday, before crossing swords against the Men in Blue in a mouthwatering Tuesday encounter.

South Africa already have a training session scheduled at the ICC Academy, Dubai on Monday, post which, they will be travelling back to Pakistan for the penultimate clash ahead of the grand finale. If India manage to reach the finals, the winner from Lahore's tie will be required to again take a flight to Dubai for the summit clash on Sunday, March 09.

"The team from Group B that is confirmed to play the Dubai semifinal will have a training session on Monday, March 3, with the opportunity to train at DICS," the ICC note said. India, set to play their semifinal on Tuesday March 4, are unlikely to train on Monday. 

New Zealand are also expected to be on the same flight. "The team from Group B that qualifies for the Lahore semifinal will travel from Dubai to Lahore on Monday on EK622, departing at 21:50," the note further mentioned.