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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Heinrich Klaasen was asked about South Africa’s travel schedule for the semifinal – which included flying from Pakistan to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, spending 18 hours there and then flying back to Pakistan – he accidentally called Dubai India before quickly correcting himself.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was an honest slip-up, but India have played all their Champions Trophy matches at the Dubai International Stadium while every other side either plays in Pakistan or travels to Dubai to take on India.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It does make the Middle Eastern country as close to a home ground as possible for India.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa played their final Champions Trophy group stage match on Saturday, comfortably defeating England by seven wickets, to head into the knockout stage top of Group B and undefeated. Yet, they didn’t know where or when their semifinal match would take place as the venues and times were not predetermined by who finished in what place on the standings.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2617407\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2202173157.jpg\" alt=\"kohli india\" width=\"1744\" height=\"1189\" /> <em>Virat Kohli of India plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 2 March in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav / MB Media / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, it was determined by where India finished in their group — and that depended on the result of the final group stage match in Group A between New Zealand and India.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, South Africa and Australia – who progressed as the second qualifier from Group B – both travelled to Dubai in case they had to face India.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Political turmoil</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Champions Trophy is the first International Cricket Council (ICC) event held in Pakistan for 28 years, largely due to safety concerns stemming from a 2009 attack on a Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The politically unstable relationship between geographical neighbours India and Pakistan has also played a role in the bar on Pakistan hosting matches between the two sides.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few months before the Champions Trophy tournament, the Indian government barred the country’s cricket team from playing in Pakistan.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An important factor is that global cricket is as good as unsustainable without the Indian market. The sale of broadcast rights worth millions of dollars would not be possible without India’s keen interest in the sport.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, when India travels to South Africa, Cricket South Africa pockets about R150-million a match through the sale of broadcast rights. Even month-long tours from other countries don’t match up to that figure.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not having India participate in the Champions Trophy wasn’t a consideration for the ICC. It arranged for all India’s matches to take place in Dubai, including the semifinal and final, if they make it to the tournament climax.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The financial power India has over ICC means it’s a case of the tail wagging the dog.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2617404\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2201451035.jpg\" alt=\"pakistan\" width=\"1786\" height=\"1141\" /> <em>Batter Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan in action during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 23 February. (Photo: Ryan Lim / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After waiting 28 years for an ICC tournament to be hosted in their country, Pakistan played only one match in front of their home crowd – the opening match of the tournament which they lost to New Zealand. 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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Heinrich Klaasen was asked about South Africa’s travel schedule for the semifinal – which included flying from Pakistan to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, spending 18 hours there and then flying back to Pakistan – he accidentally called Dubai India before quickly correcting himself.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was an honest slip-up, but India have played all their Champions Trophy matches at the Dubai International Stadium while every other side either plays in Pakistan or travels to Dubai to take on India.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It does make the Middle Eastern country as close to a home ground as possible for India.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa played their final Champions Trophy group stage match on Saturday, comfortably defeating England by seven wickets, to head into the knockout stage top of Group B and undefeated. Yet, they didn’t know where or when their semifinal match would take place as the venues and times were not predetermined by who finished in what place on the standings.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2617407\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1744\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2617407\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2202173157.jpg\" alt=\"kohli india\" width=\"1744\" height=\"1189\" /> <em>Virat Kohli of India plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 2 March in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav / MB Media / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, it was determined by where India finished in their group — and that depended on the result of the final group stage match in Group A between New Zealand and India.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, South Africa and Australia – who progressed as the second qualifier from Group B – both travelled to Dubai in case they had to face India.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Political turmoil</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Champions Trophy is the first International Cricket Council (ICC) event held in Pakistan for 28 years, largely due to safety concerns stemming from a 2009 attack on a Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The politically unstable relationship between geographical neighbours India and Pakistan has also played a role in the bar on Pakistan hosting matches between the two sides.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few months before the Champions Trophy tournament, the Indian government barred the country’s cricket team from playing in Pakistan.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An important factor is that global cricket is as good as unsustainable without the Indian market. The sale of broadcast rights worth millions of dollars would not be possible without India’s keen interest in the sport.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, when India travels to South Africa, Cricket South Africa pockets about R150-million a match through the sale of broadcast rights. Even month-long tours from other countries don’t match up to that figure.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not having India participate in the Champions Trophy wasn’t a consideration for the ICC. It arranged for all India’s matches to take place in Dubai, including the semifinal and final, if they make it to the tournament climax.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The financial power India has over ICC means it’s a case of the tail wagging the dog.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2617404\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1786\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2617404\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2201451035.jpg\" alt=\"pakistan\" width=\"1786\" height=\"1141\" /> <em>Batter Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan in action during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 23 February. (Photo: Ryan Lim / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After waiting 28 years for an ICC tournament to be hosted in their country, Pakistan played only one match in front of their home crowd – the opening match of the tournament which they lost to New Zealand. 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Virat Kohli of India plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 2 March in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav / MB Media / Getty Images)
Batter Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan in action during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 23 February. (Photo: Ryan Lim / Getty Images)