"No final in Pakistan after such a heavy investment on the venues is a blow," former captain Rashid Latif told AFP. "Pakistan is at the lowest level in terms of finances and team-wise as well, which is a double loss."

"He has about 30-40 centuries while chasing, has the most runs while chasing and that's why he has got the tag of 'chase master'," former India opener Virender Sehwag said on website Cricbuzz.

South Africa face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final on Wednesday in Lahore, looking to punch their ticket into Sunday's decider.

"I have always said, if you want only slim guys, then you should go to a modelling competition and pick all the models. It's not about that," Gavaskar told India Today.

The reigning world champions lost by four wickets in Dubai as they failed to defend a below-par total of 264 all out.

South Africa have a history of coming up short on the global stage, losing their 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final to Australia and the T20 World Cup final to India last year.

New Zealand convincingly won their first two games of the ODI tournament in Pakistan, then lost to India in Dubai on Sunday, and have now flown back to Pakistan again for the encounter at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

India coach Gautam Gambhir praised his side for their achievements at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, thus far, after beating Australia to reach the final.

Once again, the business end of an ICC tournament sets up to contain theatrics, fireworks and drama. India’s knockout contest with Australia will have it all.

Blessed with a venue advantage and with a depleted Australia at their disposal, India will be gunning for revenge when the familiar foes clash in the first semifinal today.

If South Africa beat New Zealand to reach Sunday's decider, they will at least know by then if they will take on India in Dubai, or Australia in Lahore.

The International Cricket Council, which has former Indian board secretary Jay Shah as its current chairman, has been criticised for obliging the game's financial engine by letting India camp in Dubai.

Henry, who took 5-42 as New Zealand's bowlers restricted India to 249-9, said the Black Caps would not read much into the defeat.

March 3, 2009, is etched in the memory of cricket fans worldwide as one of the darkest days in the sport’s history.

Chakravarthy is considered a 'mystery spinner' for his bag of tricks that include off-break, leg-break, googly and the 'carrom ball' that he pushes with his knuckle.

Short injured his calf while fielding and appeared hampered when making a quickfire 20 at the top of Australia's batting order before rain saw the match with Afghanistan in Lahore being abandoned.

New Zealand will take on Group B winners South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.

The winner of the match will play Australia in the semi-final, with the loser taking on South Africa.

The 34-year-old joins India's Sachin Tendulkar and West Indian Brian Lara as players who failed to translate their many individual triumphs into success as captains.

Both New Zealand and India have booked their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. But first, they must face off to determine who tops Group A. This will also help settle up the semi-final permutations.