South Africa and Australia traveled to Dubai for the Champions Trophy semi-finals, creating a logistical twist, with uncertainty over their next match. Marco Jansen shrugged off concerns about the flight, seeing it as a minor inconvenience. He emphasized the importance of adapting to conditions and executing well in crucial matches, expressing confidence in the team’s capabilities against formidable opponents like India.
During the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, South Africa and Australia traveled to Dubai for the semi-finals, creating a unique situation as only one team would remain there to compete against India in the first semi-final. South Africa is facing uncertainty about their next match against India or New Zealand after flying to Dubai, raising concerns about the necessity of the travel.
Marco Jansen, a key player for South Africa, expressed indifference towards the trip. He sees it as a short flight similar to domestic travel within Pakistan, and he is looking forward to playing golf while in Dubai. “It’s an hour-and-a-half flight, so it’s sort of like a domestic flight back home. It’s not too much of a hassle… I’m pretty excited to play some golf,” Jansen remarked.
Discussing the competition ahead, Jansen acknowledged that they would adapt to the conditions in Dubai. He noted that playing against India would be challenging since India has been training there, but he believes South Africa has the skills to perform well in those conditions. He emphasized, “We play spin really, really well. So, I don’t think it’s that much of an advantage… it all comes down to who plays better on the day.”
Jansen also shared insights into the team’s mentality as they approach the semi-finals, indicating that the competition might feel more intense, but the approach remains consistent. He mentioned, “I wouldn’t say the mindset changes… just the occasion that’s probably a bit more hyped up… you try your processes… and then basically in semi-finals you just try and do that extraordinarily well.” With a strong performance against England, where he took 3 wickets and recorded three catches, Jansen has helped position the Proteas as serious contenders for the trophy.
Despite not competing against Australia due to wet weather, South Africa’s performance against England showcased their potential, putting them in a favorable position as the tournament progresses.
Marco Jansen has addressed concerns surrounding South Africa’s travel to Dubai for the Champions Trophy semi-finals by downplaying the situation as a minor inconvenience. The team remains confident despite the unique logistical challenges, understanding that performance on the day will be paramount. Jansen’s reflections on team dynamics and adaptation highlight their readiness to compete against top teams like India. With strong recent performances, South Africa looks poised for success in the ongoing tournament.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
