David Miller Criticizes ICC Over Champions Trophy 2025 Scheduling After Semifinal Loss

South African star batter David Miller expressed his concerns about the team’s trip to Dubai just before their Champions Trophy semi-final loss to New Zealand in Lahore.

Australia and South Africa had to travel from Pakistan to Dubai because of the tournament’s complicated schedule. But South Africa’s trip was short they were there for less than a day and had to return without even playing a match.

Australia stayed in Dubai and later lost to India in the semi-final. The scheduling was tricky because India played all their matches in Dubai, as they refused to travel to Pakistan, the tournament hosts, due to political and safety issues.

"It's only an hour and 40 minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal," Miller said after South Africa's 50-run defeat to New Zealand on Wednesday.

South Africa made this trip shortly after defeating England in Karachi on Saturday.

"It's early morning, it's after a game and we had to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4:00 pm. And at 7.30 am we had to come back. It doesn't make it nice. It's not like we flew five hours, and we had enough time to recover and recuperate, but it was not an ideal situation still," Miller said.

Miller scored an unbeaten century off 67 balls, but it wasn't enough to prevent South Africa's loss to New Zealand, who will now face India in Sunday's final in Dubai.

New Zealand set a Champions Trophy record by posting 362-6, powered by impressive centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.

Temba Bavuma scored 56, and Rassie van der Dussen made 69, putting together an important 105-run partnership for the second wicket. But New Zealand's spinner, Mitchell Santner, who took 3 wickets for 43 runs, kept things tight and limited South Africa to 312 for 9.

"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. It's just they got a little bit more purchase out of the wicket," Miller said.

Regarding the upcoming final, Miller shared his preference, "I'll be honest with you, I think I'll be supporting New Zealand."

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