The weather continues to be a major concern for the second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 between India and England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Recent days have seen significant rainfall in Georgetown, and the forecast suggests the possibility of more rain during the match, which is scheduled to start at 10:30 AM local time (8:00 PM IST).
Weather Forecast and Match Impact
According to Accuweather:
– 9:00 AM (6:30 PM IST): 40% chance of rain
– 10:00 AM (7:30 PM IST): 66% chance of rain
– 11:00 AM (8:30 PM IST): 75% chance of rain
– 12:00 PM (9:30 PM IST): 49% chance of rain
– 1:00 PM (10:30 PM IST): 34% chance of rain
– 2:00 PM (11:30 PM IST): 34% chance of rain
– 3:00 PM (12:30 AM IST): 40% chance of rain
The ICC has not scheduled a reserve day for this semi-final due to the tight tournament schedule, with only a day’s gap between the second semi-final and the final in Barbados. To ensure the finalist has sufficient rest and travel time, the ICC has provided additional time on the match day itself to complete the game if required.
Rules and Conditions
If rain disrupts play, the match can utilize up to 250 minutes of extra time before overs start being reduced. Overs will only be reduced from approximately 2:40 PM local time (12:10 AM IST). For a result to be declared, both teams need to bat for a minimum of 10 overs each. If the game is washed out and no result is possible, India will progress to the final due to their higher position in the league and Super 8 phase compared to England.
ICC’s Clarification
The ICC has explained that the different rules for the two semi-finals are due to scheduling constraints and performance considerations. The first semi-final, which had a reserve day, was played in the evening, allowing more flexibility. However, with the second semi-final starting in the morning and the final scheduled soon after, a reserve day was deemed impractical.
While the weather forecast remains uncertain, the match officials and teams will be prepared to adapt to the conditions. Fans will be hoping for clear skies to witness an exciting clash between India and England, a rematch of the previous T20 World Cup semi-final. If rain does interfere, the extended time buffer and specific rules in place aim to ensure a fair contest or, if necessary, determine the finalist based on group stage performance.