David Miller criticized South Africa’s brief trip to Dubai before their Champions Trophy semi-final, stating it was “not ideal”. The team’s scheduling process led to an unnecessary flight, affecting their performance. Miller scored 100 runs, but South Africa fell short to New Zealand, who set a new tournament record. He expressed support for New Zealand in their upcoming final against India.
David Miller, a member of the South African cricket team, expressed dissatisfaction regarding their travel from Pakistan to Dubai and back before their Champions Trophy semi-final match against New Zealand. He described the trip as “not ideal,” considering that both Australia and South Africa had to make this flight due to scheduling conflicts, as India opted to play all their matches in Dubai for political reasons.
Notably, South Africa’s brief stay in Dubai lasted less than 24 hours, and they returned without participating in any matches. In contrast, Australia remained in Dubai but was eliminated by India in the semi-finals. Miller commented on the inconvenience of the travel, stating, “It’s only an hour and 40 minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal,” following South Africa’s defeat by New Zealand by 50 runs.
The team had just celebrated a victory against England in Karachi before embarking on their unnecessary trip to Dubai. He lamented the early morning flight after a game, saying, “It doesn’t make it nice,” as they arrived at 4:00 PM and had to leave again by 7:30 AM. Despite the challenging conditions, Miller showcased his talent, scoring an impressive 100 runs off 67 balls in a valiant effort despite the team’s loss.
In their match, New Zealand set a record Champions Trophy total of 362-6, led by notable performances from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. South Africa managed a total of 312-9, with a solid partnership of 105 runs between Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen. Miller remarked on the difficulty of chasing such a high total, mentioning that the pitch conditions worsened as the match progressed, allowing New Zealand’s spinners to dominate.
Looking ahead, Miller anticipated an exciting final, indicating his support for New Zealand, as he said, “I’ll be honest with you, I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand.”
In summary, David Miller highlighted the logistical challenges faced by South Africa during their abrupt travel to Dubai prior to the Champions Trophy semi-final, labeling it an unfavorable circumstance. Despite these hurdles, Miller performed admirably in the match against New Zealand, even as he recognized the superiority of the opposition’s performance. The scheduling issues raised by this incident reflect broader concerns regarding cricket event planning, especially in politically sensitive contexts. Miller’s support for New Zealand in the upcoming final further underscores the camaraderie present within the sport.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
