Dubai [UAE]: After a defeat against India in their final Group A match in Dubai, New Zealand is set to face a formidable South Africa side in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday in Lahore. Skipper Tom Latham acknowledged the challenge posed by the Proteas, who have been in exceptional form recently.
“They’re going to be a huge challenge. They’ve been playing some fantastic cricket in this tournament and probably over the last year. They’ve got match-winners throughout their side and have been playing fantastically well in these conditions,” Latham said during a press conference.
South Africa’s Formidable Run
South Africa’s recent success includes reaching the T20 World Cup and World Test Championship finals in the past year, establishing them as strong contenders. Latham emphasized the opportunity that lies ahead for both teams.
“Another great opportunity, I guess, for both sides to put a performance on the board with the chance of making an ICC final, which is what everyone’s wanting to achieve,” he added.
Balanced Squad and Past Encounters
Latham highlighted the balance in South Africa’s squad, praising their strengths in batting, bowling, and fielding.
“We know how strong South Africa are. They’ve got all bases covered in terms of batting, bowling, and in the field. It’ll be a fantastic game, and both teams are really looking forward to it,” he remarked.
Reflecting on their previous encounter with South Africa in a tri-nation series in Pakistan, Latham acknowledged differences in squad composition but stressed the importance of learning from past experiences.
“The team that we played potentially will be slightly different. They had a lot of guys that weren’t in that side as they were still playing in their SAT20 back in South Africa. So, it will be slightly different,” he noted.
Quick Turnaround and Preparation
Latham also mentioned the challenge of a quick turnaround between matches but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to adapt.
“We’ll do everything that we do leading up to a game. It’s obviously going to be a reasonably quick turnaround, but it is what it is. We’ll be looking forward to the challenge of a semifinal,” he concluded.
With both teams boasting strong line-ups and recent form, the semi-final clash promises to be an exciting contest as they vie for a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy final.