South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen expressed concerns about the potential disadvantage his team might face if they must travel to Dubai for the Champions Trophy semi-finals or finals, especially against India, who are based there. He noted that India benefits from training and playing in familiar conditions, which could pressure other teams. While acknowledging coach Aaqib Javed’s comments downplaying this advantage, van der Dussen pointed out that playing in one location offers India a significant edge. He indicated a preference for playing in Lahore over Dubai for logistical reasons, asserting that South Africa has the adaptability to perform well at any venue.
“It’s certainly an advantage. I’ve seen comments from Pakistan regarding this, but it’s undoubtedly a benefit. Being able to stay in one place, in one hotel, practicing in the same facilities, and playing in the same stadium, on the same pitches consistently, provides a clear advantage,” van der Dussen stated from Karachi, where South Africa is set to play their last group match against England. “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. It’s on them to utilize that advantage. In a way, it increases the pressure on them because the team facing them in the semi-final or final will be adapting to the conditions, while they [India] will be accustomed to it. The pressure lies on them to make it work because they possess all that insight.”
“Look, they are in Dubai for a reason,” Aaqib stated. “If they are playing in Dubai for a reason, then clearly if you compete on the same pitch or ground, you will have an edge. But we aren’t losing just because they had the advantage of the same hotel and pitch (laughs). It’s not solely about the pitch, and they haven’t played ten matches there either.”
One of the advantages India enjoys is the certainty of knowing their game venues, including the knockout rounds, while other teams will need to confirm their plans. In this context, while the outcome of the Australia vs Afghanistan match on Friday could finalize Group B’s semi-finalists, the group standing will not be clear until after South Africa’s match against England on Saturday. Should South Africa make it to the semi-finals, they will either contest India in Dubai on Tuesday or New Zealand in Lahore on Wednesday.
When asked about his preference, van der Dussen indicated he leaned towards the latter but assured that the team would be prepared for either scenario. “If it’s a personal choice, I’d say Lahore because batting there is enjoyable. The Dubai pitch doesn’t yield as many runs as Lahore, but I don’t think it truly matters,” he explained. “Logistically, playing in Lahore might be simpler. You avoid international flights and the hassle of going to another country to play in Dubai. Lahore is relatively close to our current location, so the conditions are quite similar. Ultimately, we won’t know what will happen until Saturday evening.”
Despite being in Pakistan for nearly three weeks, engaged in a mini tri-series before the Champions Trophy, and having tailored their squad accordingly, van der Dussen is confident in the team’s ability to adapt to any venue. “As a unit, regarding our team and recognizing the conditions, we have everything we need to handle what lies ahead. I’m not overly concerned; there’s no location that would necessarily favor us or hinder us.”