The T20 World Cup is set to be contested between England and Pakistan. Photo: Photo: Twitter @T20WorldCup
T20 Cricket World Cup set for controversial finish?
There is a very real chance that the T20 World Cup final could be washed out as wet-weather forecasts look grim for Melbourne.
The T20 World Cup is set to be contested between England and Pakistan. Photo: Photo: Twitter @T20WorldCup
This year’s T20 World Cup in Australia has already come in for plenty of criticism after several matches have been affected by rain. Most painfully for South African fans, the Proteas were denied a victory over Zimbabwe due to a wash-out that ultimately had a big impact on their early exit.
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The T20 World Cup final is set to be played between England and Pakistan at the MCG in Melbourne on Sunday, but there is currently a 95% chance of rain forecast, with between 15 and 25mm potentially falling.
“Very high (near 100%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe, with heavy falls possible,” the Bureau of Meteorology was saying as of Friday morning.
There is a reserve day on Monday, and while the forecast suggest there won’t be as much heavy rain, there is still a 95% chance of precipitation between 5 and 10mm.
For the knockout matches in the tournament a minimum of 10 overs per side is needed to constitute a match, which means it may be even more difficult to achieve a result.
What could ultimately save the day, though, is the fact that if there is some play on Sunday, the final will resume on the reserve day from the position it was halted should the match ultimately have to be decided on Monday.
Ultimately it means that the World Cup could end with a shared trophy between England and Pakistan, which would certainly bring a controversial end to what has been quite a strange event all round.
These are the playing conditions for the T20 World Cup final
“If the reserve day is allocated, every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs taking place and only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day,” the playing conditions read.
“If the match has started on the scheduled day and overs are subsequently reduced following an interruption, but no further play is possible, the match will resume on the reserve day at the point where the last ball was played.”
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