South Africa and Australia prepare for the Champions Trophy semifinals in Dubai while waiting for the outcome of the India-New Zealand match to finalize Group A standings. Australia has trained in Dubai, while South Africa will arrive shortly for their practice session. The semifinals will take place on March 4 and March 5, with arrangements made for travel and accommodations for the teams involved.
South Africa and Australia have commenced their preparations for the Champions Trophy semifinals at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Their semifinal match locations will be determined by the outcome of the India-New Zealand match, which will finalize Group A standings. The first semifinal is scheduled for March 4, followed by the second semifinal on March 5 in Lahore.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has implemented a hybrid tournament structure, creating certain uncertainties. According to the pre-tournament arrangements, India may play both its semifinal and final in Dubai if they qualify. Australia secured second place in Group B following their matchup in Lahore on February 28 and has since arrived in Dubai, with the team led by Steve Smith training at the ICC Academy on March 2.
South Africa claimed the top position in Group B after defeating England in Karachi on March 1. They will travel to Dubai for their practice session scheduled on March 3. Both teams will reside at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai, where the training facilities are provided.
Once the results from Group A are confirmed, the Group B team advancing to the Dubai semifinal will have training on March 3. The team proceeding to Lahore will depart from Dubai on the evening of March 3 and will practice at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 4, alongside New Zealand.
In conclusion, the semifinals of the Champions Trophy are set to occur in Dubai and Lahore, with South Africa and Australia poised for their respective matches. Training sessions are arranged in response to Group A’s outcomes, with logistics carefully coordinated by the ICC. This structure aims to facilitate a smooth and fair progression to the tournament’s final stages.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
