A Quick Detour in Dubai
South Africa’s 18-hour stopover in Dubai between matches in Pakistan has been a unique part of their Champions Trophy journey. The team used the brief break to their advantage, stepping out to enjoy some leisure time and a hearty meal. "We had some time to get out and walk around and get loose and just had some nice steak, to be fair," Heinrich Klaasen said from Lahore. Despite the unconventional schedule, the team is taking it in stride, recognizing it as part of the tournament’s demands. "We knew that there was a big possibility that we might have to fly up and down," Klaasen added. "It’s not ideal for the bodies, but at least we had some time to get out and walk around and recover."
Managing the Travel Fatigue
South Africa left Karachi on Sunday morning after securing their spot in the final four with a seven-wicket victory over England. They returned to Pakistan on Monday at 11 am, a bit later than New Zealand, who left at 4 am after a Sunday evening loss to India. This slightly later return has given the South African team a bit more rest and recovery time, which could be a significant advantage come match day. "We haven’t really travelled a lot in this competition," Klaasen noted. "It was obviously just a crazy 18 hours, but we had that off time and could stretch our legs and recover as well before we had to come back. I think our bodies will be in a better position than their bodies."
Making the Most of Downtime
In Dubai, some South African players, including Marco Jansen, took the opportunity to play night golf, a luxury they do not have in the more restrictive environment of Pakistan. The team also visited a mall, a welcome change from the hotel confines they have been in during their time in Pakistan. Klaasen confirmed that the team did not watch the match between India and New Zealand, focusing instead on their own preparation and recovery. "Regardless of where you play, you still have to beat two good teams," he said. "If we beat New Zealand and India beat Australia, we still have to beat India there. Or if Australia beat them, we still have to beat a good Australian team to win this trophy."
Adapting to Different Conditions
The conditions in Dubai are notably different from those in Pakistan. "The conditions are quite different," Klaasen acknowledged. "The conditions in Pakistan are quite nice to bat on, so the bowlers have a harder job to do. In Dubai, the wickets are slow, but you still have to play good cricket." Despite these differences, the team remains focused on the basics—playing good cricket and executing their plans effectively. "Regardless of where you play, you just have to play good cricket," Klaasen reiterated.
Building on Recent Success
South Africa’s journey to this point has been marked by consistent performance in major ICC events over the last two years, including reaching the semi-finals and winning their first World Cup semi-final in T20 cricket last year. "The nerves are a little bit less because we have a little bit more experience in the semi-final department now," Klaasen said. "We’re playing good cricket. Since I’ve been around from 2018, we have played some incredible cricket. We just had some bad luck here and there and one or two games that didn’t go our way, but we’ve been playing good cricket. It’s the rewards that we’re seeing now. The boys are holding a little bit more composure in the bigger moments in the game. Hopefully, we can get into another final."
Looking Ahead and Managing Expectations
South Africa’s recent success has eased pre-event concerns about poor form, which included being clean-swept in an ODI home series by Pakistan and a six-match losing streak. Coach Rob Walter attributed these results to the absence of first-choice players, and his faith in the team has been vindicated. Klaasen urged South African fans to understand the team’s broader strategy, which includes using bilateral events to give opportunities to young players, even at the cost of some losses. "We were in a position over the last couple of years where we really tried to broaden our group a little bit. And with that will come some losses. And as long as your main team and the guys that are your first picks bring it every time we need to come play, then I don’t see the issue," he said. As the team prepares for their semi-final against New Zealand, the focus is on maintaining this composure and continuing to play the cricket that has brought them this far.
