South Africa’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 journey was marked by hectic travel, impacting their performance in the tournament. The team had to endure multiple flights between Pakistan and Dubai, which took a toll on their fitness and recovery.
Intense Travel Schedule
While New Zealand had a relatively manageable travel schedule—flying to Dubai for their final group match before returning to Lahore—South Africa’s journey was far more demanding.
- After playing England in Karachi, they flew to Dubai on Sunday.
- The following day, they returned to Lahore after realizing they wouldn’t be playing in Dubai.
- The constant back-and-forth flights disrupted their preparation and rest periods.
David Miller’s Frustration Over Travel Fatigue
South African batter David Miller highlighted the challenges of this intense travel schedule, stating:
“It’s only a one-hour-and-40-minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that [was not ideal]. It’s early morning, it’s after a game, and we had to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4 p.m. And at 7:30 in the morning, we had to come back. It doesn’t make it nice.”
Miller noted that while it wasn’t a long-haul flight, the timing and lack of recovery made it a difficult experience.
No Excuses – New Zealand Was the Better Team
Despite the fatigue, Miller refused to blame travel issues for South Africa’s defeat, acknowledging that New Zealand was the better team on the day.
READ MORE: Google Introduces AI Mode for Search, Upgrades AI Overviews with Gemini 2.0
He was the lone warrior in South Africa’s batting lineup, scoring a sensational century off the final ball. However, his individual milestone was bittersweet as he stated:
“I would have rather played badly if it meant South Africa had won.”
South Africa Misses Another ICC Final
With the loss, South Africa will once again watch another ICC final from the sidelines as India and New Zealand prepare to battle for the title in Dubai on Sunday.
