T20 World Cup semi-final washout

The weather forecasts for both of the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals predict that rain could play a significant part in each fixture. Here's what will happen if one or both is a wash-out.

While there is rain scheduled in Trinidad and Tobago during the first semi-final (South Africa v Afghanistan), the forecast is significantly worse for the second in Guyana, between India and England. There are set to be thundery showers on the island on Thursday (June 27) according to the Met Office, meaning the match could possibly be washed out. 

Who goes through in the case of a wash-out?

The team that progressed as group winners in the Super Eights will go through. So if South Africa-Afghanistan is washed out, South Africa go through, and if India-England is washed out, India will go through.

How much extra time is there, and what about reserve days?

Only the first semi-final has a reserve day, which has led to some accusations of bias from the ICC. India playing in the second semi-final was predetermined, if they progressed to that stage, and if there is a wash-out, that will be to their benefit. However, it is worth noting that had India finished second, a wash-out in their semi-final would have knocked them out, and there is precedent for the ICC pre-allocating semi-final venues and times.

There is also a significant buffer for the India-England semi-final. The match is scheduled to start at 10:30am local time and the playing conditions state that there will have to be more than 250 minutes of delay before the match is shortened. This corresponds to the amount of extra time allocated to the first semi-final, albeit that that is split across two days. The travel time between Guyana and Barbados is cited as the reason behind there not being a reserve day for the second semi. 

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