We are into the business end of the T20 World Cup. 1 team has sealed their semi-final spot – New Zealand, while the three other spots are up for grabs, which will be decided in the remaining 4 Super 12 matches on Saturday and Sunday.
Australia need Sri Lanka to defeat England otherwise should England win, they will go through to the semis as they have better NRR than Australia. In Group 2, only Netherlands has been eliminated, the rest of the 5 teams are alive in the semi-final race, and all 6 teams in this group will be in action on a bumper Sunday.
While teams are focusing on their matches, the fans have also been wondering what if the semi-finals and final are interrupted by rain, which is a possibility. In the Super 12 round, 4 matches have had no winners because of rain while three others have been shortened.
The two semi-finals are in Sydney and Adelaide while the final, on November 13, is in Melbourne. All these three venues are under threat of rain.
What will happen if it rains in the semi-final and final of T20 World Cup 2022?
In general T20 matches, both teams have to play a minimum of 5 overs to constitute a result. But, for the semi-finals and the final, the ICC altered the rules, stating that a minimum of 10 overs per side need to be bowled in order for the game to be concluded (unless, of course, if the chasing team either chases down the revised target allotted for more than 10 overs, or gets bowled out inside 10 overs).
“The revision of the number of overs should ensure, whenever possible, that both teams have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs. The team batting second shall not bat for a greater number of overs than the first team unless the latter completed its innings in less than its allocated overs. To constitute a match, a minimum of 5 overs have to be bowled to the side batting second, subject to a result not being achieved earlier. For the semi-finals and final, a minimum of 10 over have to be bowled to the side batting second, subject to a result not being achieved earlier,” the rule states.
What if the semi-final/final is washed out? Is there a reserve day? What if the match is also not completed on the reserve day?
If the semi-finals or final game gets washed out, then a reserve day will be allocated for that incomplete game at the same venue. The match will be resumed from the same stage on the reserve day.
If reserve day in the semi-finals also gets washed out, then the team which finished at the 1st position in their Super 12 group points table will be declared as the winner of the semi-finals.
If the final gets washed out on the reserve day as well, then both the teams will be declared joint-winners.
The last time the ICC had joint-winners was back in the 2002 Champions Trophy when the final between India and Sri Lanka couldn’t be completed despite restarting the game on the reserve day, and both were declared as joint-winners.
