‘Champions Trophy format makes it more challenging than World Cup’: Temba Bavuma | Cricket News

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on Sunday said that the format of the Champions Trophy makes it more challenging than the World Cup due to there being lesser number of matches which does not allow teams who start in a not so strong note to make a comeback. The Champions Trophy is set to take place in Pakan from February 19 with India playing all their matches in Dubai.
“In the World Cup, you have time to take stock and step up. But in the Champions Trophy you can’t do that but we are hopeful of going one step further in the tournament,” Bavuma said.
“Obviously, we have our sights on where we want to be in the Champions Trophy this time but the format makes it more challenging for teams when you look at the 50-over World Cup,” he added.
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South Africa, the losing finals of the T20 World Cup 2024, and the finals of the upcoming World Test Championship, will face off New Zealand on Monday in the second match of the ongoing Tri Series, also including Pakan, with a depleted squad, and at least five-six players are expected to debut.
This was because many of the players named in the South African squad for the Champions Trophy and tri-series are yet to join the side because they were part of the just-concluded SA20.

“It is a lovely opportunity for a couple of guys who have been doing well in domestic cricket and in T20 leagues to make a statement on what value they can add to the team. The tri-series will give us a chance to acclimatise to playing in Pakan and get knowledge to share it with a wider group and it is also an opportunity for young players to keep on playing in future,” Bavuma said.