David Miller criticized the ICC for the Champions Trophy’s scheduling after South Africa’s semi-final loss to New Zealand, citing travel disruptions and insufficient recovery time. Despite his unbeaten century, South Africa fell short in chasing New Zealand’s record total. Miller acknowledged the pitch deterioration affecting their performance and expressed support for New Zealand in the final against India.
David Miller, South Africa’s standout player in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against New Zealand, expressed his discontent with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the tournament’s scheduling. The Proteas exited the tournament after a 50-run defeat on March 5, 2025. The peculiar schedule required both Australia and South Africa to travel to Dubai after the group stage, disrupting their preparations for the ensuing matches.
When India triumphed over New Zealand in their final group encounter, it necessitated South Africa’s return to Pakistan for their semi-final clash with New Zealand. Miller commented, “It’s only an hour and 40-minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal,” highlighting the logistical challenges faced.
The team returned to Lahore after their trip to Dubai, facing the consequences of this travel mere hours after their arrival. Miller articulated further concerns about recovery time after strenuous travel, stating, “It’s early morning, and we had to fly… it doesn’t make it nice.”
Despite his spirited performance with an unbeaten century of 67 runs, including 10 fours and four sixes, his efforts were ultimately in vain as South Africa fell short, chasing a Champions Trophy record total of 363 runs. New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner took three wickets, contributing to the pivotal role of their spin bowlers.
Miller observed that the pitch deteriorated over the course of the game, complicating the chase for 360 runs. He remarked, “It’s not easy chasing 360 even if it’s a good wicket. I think the wicket just deteriorated as the game went on and they spun the ball a lot more than us.”
As the tournament progressed, New Zealand set a remarkable total, with centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. In a show of sportsmanship, Miller expressed his support for New Zealand in the final against India, stating, “I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand.”
David Miller’s criticism of the ICC’s scheduling highlights the impact of logistical challenges on player performance. His remarkable individual achievement in the semi-final contrasted with the team’s struggles, emphasizing the detrimental effects of improper planning in high-stakes tournaments. The match outcomes underscore the unpredictability of sport, while Miller’s sentiment endorsing New Zealand reflects a commendable camaraderie within the cricketing community.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
