Updated 6 March 2025 at 16:06 IST
'Doesn't Make It Nice': David Miller Bashes The ICC, Tries To Justify SA's Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final Loss To NZ
South Africa failed to make their way into the final match of the Champions Trophy 2025 after conceding a 50-run defeat to the Kiwis in Lahore.
Champions Trophy 2025: Following South Africa's 50-run defeat against New Zealand in the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore, the Proteas batter David Miller attacked the ICC by rekindling the Dubai venue row, saying that it doesn't make it nice. Miller played a stupendous knock against the Black Caps, scoring an unbeaten century from just 67 balls at a strike rate of 149.25. However, his blistering knock went in vain as the Proteas failed to confirm their spot in the final of the ongoing ICC event.
South Africa stayed unbeaten in the Champions Trophy 2025 by showing a stunning performance throughout the tournament. But they failed to maintain momentum in the knockout stage. Earlier in the tournament, the Proteas clinched two wins, and one of their group stage game was abandoned after heavy rainfall in Rawalpindi.
David Miller Gives Reason Behind South Africa's Defeat To Black Caps
On March 5, the South African middle-order batter justified their defeat against the Kiwis by bringing the Dubai venue controversy back into the limelight. The 35-year-old said that it was not an ideal situation to play in the tournament. The Proteas had to travel to Dubai before India's final group match against New Zealand as the knockout stage fixture was not yet decided back then.
"It's only an hour and 40 minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal. 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 after the defeat to New Zealand at the post-match presentation.
Gautam Gambhir Hits Back At ‘Perpetual Cribbers’
Earlier on March 4, India head coach Gautam Gambhir gave a befitting reply to people who are saying that the 'Men in Blue' are getting an 'undue advantage' in the Champions Trophy 2025, calling them 'perpetual cribbers'.
"And there's a lot of debate about the undue advantage and all that. What undue advantage? We haven't practised here even for one day. We're practising at the ICC academy. And the conditions there and here are 180 degrees different. Some people are just perpetual cribbers, man. They've got to grow up. I feel that there was nothing like we had any undue advantage," Gambhir said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Published By : Jishu Bhattacharya
Published On: 6 March 2025 at 16:06 IST