LAHORE: New Zealand’s skipper Mitchell Santner expressed confidence ahead of their Champions Trophy semi-final clash against South Africa on Wednesday, despite the challenges posed by tough travel schedules. The team had to endure a series of long-haul flights after initially winning their first two matches in Pakistan but losing to India in Dubai on Sunday. Afterward, they flew back to Pakistan for the semi-final match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Santner reflected on the team’s travel experience, saying, “It was actually more of a daytime sleep. It was tough travel but it’s nice to get it done, get here and kind of a reset and get ready for today (training) and tomorrow’s game.”
The tournament has been played on a hybrid model due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. As a result, India has played all their matches, including the semi-final, in Dubai, while the other teams in Group A – Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh – had to travel to Dubai to face India. This unusual format has raised concerns of an imbalance, giving India an apparent advantage.
Santner acknowledged that scheduling challenges are part and parcel of international cricket but emphasized the importance of recovery. “One-day cricket can be very exhausting on the body, so for us, it’s making sure that the bowlers are ready,” Santner said. “What we can change is to have rest and a good reset.”
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New Zealand, having already secured their place in the semi-finals prior to their 44-run defeat to India, has now recovered and is focused on the upcoming match against South Africa. Santner also spoke about the threat posed by the well-balanced South African team, who secured semi-final qualification after convincing victories over England and Afghanistan. “They have four good seamers, and Lahore would probably not be spinning as much as Dubai,” Santner said. “They are a well-balanced side.”
With both teams eager to make it to the final, the semi-final promises to be a highly competitive clash.
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