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David Miller, a South African cricketer publicly blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the hectic travel itinerary given to his team for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Having lost the semi-final match by 50 runs to New Zealand in Lahore, Miller was not happy about the logistics arrangements which he believed affected player performance negatively.
Miller explained the experience, stating, "It's only an hour-and-40-minute flight, but that we had to do it at all was not good. It's an early morning; it's after a game, and we had to fly. And then we get to Dubai at 4:00 pm. And we came back at 7:30 am. It doesn't make it very nice." The Protease were subjected to a frenetic schedule of flights between Dubai and Pakistan. After defeating England in Karachi, the team took the flight to Dubai in order to face India for the semi-final match-up. But when they were actually scheduled to play New Zealand instead, they were in Lahore in less than 24 hours.
This complicated scheduling was a result of India choosing to play all their games in Dubai due to political and security reasons that made them chose not to play in Pakistan, the co-host country for the tournament. Teams such as South Africa and Australia, therefore, had extra travel costs to bear in order to meet the two-country hosting system.
South Africa had to face New Zealand in the semi-final in which David Miller despite all the issues played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 67 balls. He tried his best to bring victory for his team but the effort was not sufficient guide South Africa to victory, as they could not surpass New Zealand's solid total of 362-6. Reflecting upon the game and the circumstances leading to it, Miller said this, "It's not like we drove five hours, and we had enough time to rest and recover, but it was not an ideal situation still.
Political tensions between Pakistan and India became the main reason which forced the ICC's to apply a hybrid hosting model, known as the 'Fusion Formula'. The move has been challenged by players and commentators, though, on the basis that the resultant travel obligations compromise player well-being and competition integrity.
Cricketers train very hard for their games and have a very tough schedule while performing in leagues or trophies. Recently going on, ICC Champion's Trophy, scheduled matches in two different countries which became very hectic for some teams and players. David Miller from South Africa quoted the issue and stated that it is really unfair to travel this much and play at the same time, he further quoted to their consecutive matches in 24 hours, one in Dubai and other in Pakistan, that we need rest after we finish a game. ICC or other players still have not responded to this. The league is about to come to an end as the final is already scheduled on 9 March 2025 between India and New Zealand.
