SA and Australia to travel to Dubai due to tangled Champions Trophy scheduling

NewsOne of the teams will travel back to Pakistan to play New Zealand in the second semi-final

The Dubai stadium will host India and their opponents in the first semi-final on March 4  •  ICC/Getty Images

The scheduling of the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy in two different countries has meant both teams that have qualified from Group B – Australia and South Africa* – will travel to the UAE this weekend.

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. However, it does guarantee one side will find themselves in the sub-optimal position of leaving Pakistan for Dubai, only to have to return to Pakistan soon after. While the Lahore semi-final is one day later on March 5, the way in which this tournament has been scheduled means that one team will travel and train at a venue they do not need to be at for a day.

Australia shifted to Dubai on Saturday, having qualified after their game against Afghanistan was abandoned in Lahore on Friday. South Africa, who sealed qualification on Saturday evening with a thumping win over England, will depart Karachi for Dubai at noon on Sunday.

The actual match-ups and venues of the two semi-finals will only be confirmed after India and New Zealand play the final group game of this tournament on Sunday. India will play in Dubai regardless of their group position, which means the two teams of group B will find out where they play their semi-final only after India have played New Zealand.

Such a scenario was all but inevitable given the necessity of India playing their games outside Pakistan, despite the country officially being the sole host of the tournament. The PCB spent several months trying to get India to visit Pakistan, at one stage proposing hosting all their games in Lahore. However, the BCCI said the Indian government did not grant the team permission to play cricket in Lahore. There is significant political tension between the two countries.

The uncertainty concerning venues will extend right to the final as well. If India win their semi-final, the final will take place in Dubai. However, should they lose the semi-final, it will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

*This article was updated at the end of the England vs South Africa game.

Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000