Australia and South Africa must travel to Dubai for possible semifinal matches following India’s game against New Zealand. Both teams face logistical challenges with potential flights back and forth based on match results. India’s advantage of playing all matches in one venue poses a unique contrast to the travel faced by Australia and South Africa.
Due to security concerns in Pakistan, India is hosting its matches in Dubai. Consequently, Australia and South Africa must travel there as they await the outcome of India’s match against New Zealand on Sunday. The conclusion of this match will determine their respective semifinal venues.
South Africa’s game against England is set for Saturday, but neither team will know their semifinal location until after Sunday’s match. The BBC notes that waiting until Monday to travel would prevent these teams from training in Dubai, where India has played all three of its group matches.
Cricketers like South African batter Rassie van der Dussen and former Australian captain Pat Cummins have expressed that India benefits from playing all games at a single location, contrasting with the travel experience of teams like Australia and South Africa.
Australia may need to make a three-hour flight from Lahore to Dubai on Saturday, potentially returning to Pakistan if they do not face India in the semifinal. Similarly, South Africa will travel to Dubai early Sunday after their final group match but could return 24 hours later if they are not drawn against India.
The second-placed team from Group A will meet the Group B winners, and India will compete in its knockout match in Dubai on Tuesday, regardless of their group position.
In summary, the upcoming travel plans for Australia and South Africa are contingent on the outcomes of their group matches. Due to logistical issues caused by security concerns in Pakistan, both teams will face potential back-and-forth travel to Dubai. This situation highlights the advantages India has gained by playing all its matches at a single venue, which allows for consistent training conditions prior to the semifinals.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
