Fans are eagerly anticipating the high-stakes second T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final between India and England in Guyana to begin. However, persistent rain and unique match regulations have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the contest scheduled for Thursday, June 27.

Tight schedule forces unique scenario

Unlike the first semi-final, this match lacks a reserve day due to the tight schedule before the final in Barbados.

The ICC has implemented specific rules to ensure a timely conclusion.

“To avoid back-to-back matches for teams,” an ICC spokesperson said, “overs will start being reduced at 2:40 pm local time (approximately 250 minutes after the scheduled 10:30 am start).”

This creates a situation where a full 20-over match could begin at 2:40 pm (12:10 am IST), potentially facing interruptions later that could lead to a no-result.

Minimum overs requirement

For a completed match, both teams must bat for at least 10 overs.

The ICC spokesperson has confirmed that the latest start time for a 10-over match would be around 4:14 pm (1:44 am IST).

If weather disrupts this requirement, India, who finished top of their Super Eight group, will advance to the finals against South Africa.

While these playing conditions were pre-approved, the lack of a reserve day for such a crucial encounter has sparked debate among fans and experts.

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Mark Wood, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Tom Hartley