Rassie van der Dussen, a top-order South African batsman, said one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know” that India, based in Dubai for the ongoing Champions Trophy, are “definitely” in an advantageous position, but their knowledge of the conditions could also put them under pressure to fully exploit it. While the other teams have to criss-cross Pakistan for their games, Rohit Sharma’s men are playing all of their contests in Dubai; even the final will be held there should the team goes the distance.
“Absolutely an advantage.” Pakistan was discussing it but it is absolutely a benefit. Van der Dussen was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying, “It’s clearly an advantage if you could remain at one location, live in one hotel, train at the same facility, play on the same field, on the same pitches every time.”
South Africa will end their group play Friday against England.
“I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that.” Van der Dussen followed on,”they would have to take advantage of it.
“In a sense, it puts more pressure on them because whoever is going to play them in the semi or potentially the final is going to go there and the conditions are going to be foreign but they (India) are going to be used to it. Since they have all that knowledge, the pressure would be on them to have it right.””
India have won both their games easy so far against Bangladesh and Pakistan and are through to the semifinal on March 4 in Dubai. Their final group game is Sunday against New Zealand, a team that has played in Pakistan already and also won all its games against the home team and Bangladesh.
South Africa now lead the Group B table with three points from two games; should they keep their pace, they could go to Dubai for a Champions Trophy semifinal or final.
If they make it to the semifinals, South Africa will either meet India in Dubai on Tuesday or New Zealand in Lahore on Wednesday.
Though van der Dussen said Lahore would be his first choice, he remarked the team would be prepared for any game.
“If it’s a personal subject, I would argue Lahore playing is great just for batting there. The Dubai pitch is not as high-scoring as Lahore, but no, I don’t think it really matters,&” he said.
“Logistically, it will likely be simpler to perform in Lahore. You don’t have to fly abroad and go to Dubai and actually go to some other nation to compete. Since Lahore is not very far from where we presently are, conditions are rather close. Former Australia captain Pat Cummins, who missed out on the competition due to an ankle injury, had also said that India has a “big advantage” to be located in Dubai. It is really one of those things; we do not know what will occur until Saturday evening.
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed had hinted at it before playing down the suggestions that India had the upper hand from the outset starting their dreadful campaign.
Aaqib said, “See, they are in Dubai for a reason.” “If their performance in Dubai has a meaning, certainly you will have an edge if you’re playing on the same field or ground.”
“But we are not falling behind because they had the benefit of the same hotel and pitch (chuckles). It’s not only the pitch; they also did not play ten games there.