One team will return to Pakistan for the second semi-final against New Zealand

The scheduling of the Champions Trophy semi-finals across two different countries has led to logistical challenges, with both Group B qualifiers—most likely Australia and South Africa—set to travel to the UAE on Saturday.

An ICC official confirmed that the decision was made to give the team playing the Dubai semi-final on March 4 ample time to prepare. However, it also means that one team will face the inconvenience of traveling from Pakistan to Dubai, only to return to Pakistan the following day. While the Lahore semi-final is scheduled for March 5, the current tournament structure forces one team to relocate unnecessarily, despite not playing on March 4.

Australia has already begun their journey to Dubai after securing qualification following their abandoned match against Afghanistan in Lahore. South Africa—if they confirm their spot as expected—will depart Karachi for Dubai soon after their game against England. If Afghanistan were to qualify instead of South Africa, they too would make the immediate journey to Dubai.

The exact semi-final matchups and venues will only be finalized after India and New Zealand play the last group-stage game on Sunday. India is set to play their semi-final in Dubai regardless of their group standing, meaning the Group B teams will only learn their semi-final destination after India’s fixture.

This situation was inevitable given India’s decision to play all their matches outside Pakistan, despite Pakistan being the official tournament host. The PCB had initially attempted to persuade India to play in Lahore, even proposing to stage all their games there, but the BCCI cited government restrictions preventing their team from touring Pakistan. The ongoing political tensions between the two nations played a crucial role in this arrangement.

Uncertainty also looms over the final’s location. If India wins their semi-final, the final will be held in Dubai. However, if they lose, the title clash will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.