The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, seen before the start of the tournament in Dubai, UAE.
Credit: PTI Photo
Karachi: The Australian team has already left for Dubai while South Africa will leave for the same city late Saturday night ahead of the Champions Trophy semifinals, even though it remains uncertain whether their matches will be held there or not.
Dubai is set to host the first semifinal on Tuesday, with Lahore is hosting the second on Wednesday.
India's semifinals opponents -- either Australia or South Africa -- will be known only after their last Group A match against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.
Due to security concerns in Pakistan, India are playing all their matches in Dubai.
A source in the know of the happenings in the tournament said that the Australian side have already left for Dubai after a discussion among the members of the team management. They left after their match against Afghanistan which was abandoned due to rain on Friday night in Lahore.
Some of the members of the Afghanistan side also left for Dubai in the same flight to see if they have any chance of making it to the semifinals, according to the source.
Earlier, a BBC report suggested that both Australia and South Africa would have wanted to reach Dubai early to get training time there if they have to face India in the semifinals on Tuesday.
"Group B concludes with South Africa's match against England on Saturday but neither the Proteas or Australia will know the venue for their semifinal until after the conclusion of India's match against New Zealand on Sunday," the report said on Saturday.
"Were they (Australia and South Africa) to wait until Monday and only travel when the fixtures were confirmed, that would rule out the possibility of training in Dubai -– where India will have played all three group matches," it added.
Some cricketers, including South African top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen and former Australia skipper Pat Cummins, have said India are in an advantageous position as they have played all their games at one venue while other teams have had to travel to different venues in Pakistan.
The BBC report further added that a situation might arise where Australia and South Africa might have to come back to Pakistan 24 hours after leaving the host country.
The team finishing second in Group A will meet the winners of Group B and vice-versa.
India will play their semifinals match in Dubai on Tuesday whether they finish first or second in Group A.