Frustrated with scheduling, Miller hopes New Zealand beat India in Champions Trophy final

David Miller frustrated with Champions Trophy scheduling, hopes for New Zealand win in final against India.

Frustrated with the scheduling of Champions Trophy's second semifinal after to-and-fro flights between Pakistan and Dubai in a span of just 12 hours, South African batter David Miller is now hoping for a New Zealand victory in the tournament's title clash against India.

With a brilliant hundred, Miller was the lone ranger in his side's defeat to the Black Caps in their last-four stage clash in Lahore on Wednesday.

“I’ll be honest with you. I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand,” Miller was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

South Africa had to take an early morning flight to Dubai the night after playing their final group game in Karachi. With the tournament being played in a hybrid model, both Australia and South Africa were camped in Dubai waiting for the result of the group game between India and New Zealand.

As Group B toppers, South Africa had to take the flight back to Pakistan to play their semifinal as the last-four match involving India was to be held in Dubai.

After scoring a hundred in a losing cause, Miller termed the scheduling not ideal.

“It’s only an hour-and-40-minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that. It’s early morning, it’s after a game, and we had to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4pm.