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IND-PAK Rivalry Creates Travel Issues For Australia And South Africa In Champions Trophy

Aakash Saini

Australian and South African players during 2025 ICC Champions Trophy [Source: @ICC/x]Australian and South African players during 2025 ICC Champions Trophy [Source: @ICC/x]

Australian and South African cricket teams will both be required to fly to the UAE following the conclusion of their Group B fixtures of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. However, one of the two teams will have to return back to Pakistan to play the semifinal of the competition in Lahore.

Australia is already en route to Dubai considering Steve Smith and co. qualified for the semifinals after their no-result against Afghanistan on February 28. The South African team, almost certain to make it among the top four sides of the tournament, will take flight for Dubai after their match against England.

Teams to travel back-and-forth for knockouts

The jumbled scheduling of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy means that the top two teams from Group B, most likely Australia and South Africa, will be required to travel to Dubai after completing their opening round games. Moreover, one of the two teams will have to travel back to Pakistan to compete in the semifinals.

While the PCB was originally scheduled to be the sole host of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the BCCI and Indian government’s refusal of sending the Indian team to Pakistan prompted the ICC to co-host the tournament with Dubai in UAE.

One of the semifinals will be hosted by the Dubai International Stadium and the other will be staged at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. While teams like India, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa (almost) have qualified for the semifinals, the line-up for the knockouts will only be determined after the results of South Africa vs England and India vs New Zealand fixtures.

Regardless of the exact line-up, Team India will play its semifinal in Dubai, leaving the two Group B teams to have its exact scheduling fate determined only after the conclusion of the group stage of the tournament.

Notably, clouds of uncertainty also hover around the final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, as the title-clash will be hosted by Dubai only if India qualifies for the same. If Team India loses its semifinal, the final will be hosted by a Pakistani venue.