Semi-final match-ups confirmed after India beat New Zealand in Champions Trophy
DUBAI: The much-awaited semi-final line-up for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 was finalized after former champions India dominated New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India’s 44-run victory over the Blackcaps secured their position at the top of Group A with six points from three matches, setting up a semi-final clash against two-time champions Australia at the same venue on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, New Zealand will take on Group B leaders South Africa in the second semi-final, which is set to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
As a result, both teams will return to Lahore in order to have sufficient time for preparations ahead of their crucial knockout encounter.
It is worth noting that the two Group A semi-finalists – Australia and South Africa – had to travel to Dubai on Saturday due to the possibility of facing India in the semi-finals.
This scheduling complexity stems from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to not send their men’s team to Pakistan, citing Indian government directives just months before the start of the eight-team tournament.
The BCCI’s stance triggered a strong response from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), leading to a prolonged standoff between the two cricketing authorities.
Ultimately, the dispute was resolved through PCB’s proposed ‘Fusion Formula,’ which ensures that both nations will play their matches at neutral venues whenever India or Pakistan are the designated hosts of an ICC event for the next three years.
Remaining Champions Trophy 2025 schedule:
- March 4, 2025: India vs Australia in Dubai
- March 5, 2025: South Africa vs New Zealand in Lahore
- March 9, 2025: Final – TBD vs TBD in Lahore (unless India qualifies, in which case it will be held in Dubai)
