T20 World Cup 2024: Reserve day dilemma for semifinals and final amid tight schedule

The schedule for the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies found some issues owing to the tight schedule between the semifinals and the final. With the two semifinals scheduled for June 26 and 27 and the final set for June 29, it can probably be a close call, with one team having to play the semifinal and final on consecutive days as well.

While the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Cricket West Indies (CWI) have scheduled reserve days, there may be a little abnormal scenario as if the second semifinal spills over to the next day (June 28), the winners of the game will have to play the final in less than 24 hours as well. Additionally, they will have to travel from Providence in Guyana to Bridgetown in Barbados during that period as well. Moreover, the probable team could be India if they go on to reach the final.

The World Cup begins on June 1

As per the schedule, India will play their semifinal on June 27 at 8.30 pm IST (if they qualify). A CWI official said that the ICC are also in control of the playing regulations for the tournament and the West Indies board cannot comment on that as well. In a March 15 media release, it confirmed the reserve days for the last three matches of the 55-match tournament.

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“It was also confirmed during the meetings that ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 would have reserve days scheduled for the semi-finals and final,” the ICC said in a media release after a board meeting. If this happens, then the ICC may have to move the final to its reserve days, June 30.

India have a good chance to win

However, in last year’s World Cup in India, there was a sufficient gap in the second semifinal between South Africa and Australia which was played on November 16 and the final was on November 19 in Ahmedabad as well.

In the last Twenty20 World Cup in 2022 in Australia, the second semifinal, between India and England, took place on November 10 and the final was on November 13 as well. Even, in 2011 too, the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup in UAE was played between Pakistan and Australia on November 11 in Dubai while the final between Australia and New Zealand at the same venue took place on November 14 as well.