Heavy rain storms in Florida are threatening to washout a significant part of the action in the Lauderhill leg of the Group A and Group D action in the T20 World Cup this week, which could have disastrous ramifications for Pakistan and Sri Lanka's hopes.
Four games are scheduled to be played in Florida between tomorrow (June 12), and Sunday (June 16). The first of these will be between Nepal and Sri Lanka in Group D, with the other three featuring teams from Group A. With close battles for each of the second two qualifier spots in each group, washouts would have a big impact on which sides reach the Super Eights.
Weather forecast for Lauderhill, Florida over the next week
There are tropical thunderstorms and showers predicted for Florida over the next week, with parts of the state expected to see up to a foot of rainfall. It's currently huriccane season in the area, with flooding likely as the downpours go through. Lauderhill, where all the T20 World Cup matches in Florida will be played, is on the South Eastern coast of the state, with showers coming in straight from the sea. There is currently a flash-flood warning in place for Lauderhill from Tuesday (June 11), to Thursday (June 13).
Accuweather's forecast for Lauderhill does not predict the chance of rain at less than 88 per cent for all the match days in the city. Thus, there is a high chance that most or all of the action in Florida will be washed out.
What could this mean for Group A?
India and the United States are currently in the top two positions in Group A. Pakistan are off the mark with victory over Canada but remain in high danger of an early exit from the competition. All five sides have at least one match to play in Florida, with Ireland having two. India play the USA in New York tomorrow before the entire group heads to Florida.
No matter what happens in that game, a washout in Pakistan's match in Florida against Ireland would take them to three points and they would therefore be out of the competition, unable to reach the four points already accrued by India and the USA.
Even if Pakistan beat Ireland and the rain, the weather could still thwart them. The other two matches in Florida are USA vs Ireland and Canada v India. If India beat the USA to secure their spot in the Super Eights, USA will only need a point against Ireland to lock up second, meaning a washout would send them through. If USA beat India, a washout in Canada-India would send India through.
Ireland are potentially the most hamperred by the weather in the group. They need to win both their remaining matches in order to have even the slimmest chances of finishing in the top two. With both of those games scheduled in Florida, there's a high chance they won't get there, disregarding the opposition they face.
What could this mean for Group D?
Sri Lanka will play Nepal in Florida in the first of the fixtures at Lauderhill. Both are the only teams with zero points in the group, Nepal having only played one match.
A washout would mean Sri Lanka could reach a maximum of three points if they beat the Netherlands in the last fixture of the group. They would also need Bangladesh's fixture against the Netherlands in Kingstown to be washed out, and for Bangladesh to lose to Nepal in order to qualify.
For Nepal, a washout wouldn't be as detrimental. If they then beat South Africa and Bangladesh, they would reach five points, more than both Bangladesh and the Netherlands could reach, and they would secure the second qualifying position. However, losing one of those two matches and a washout in Florida, would mean other results would have to go their way.
Assuming Sri Lanka and Nepal suffer a washout and Nepal don't threaten to qualify, Bangladesh vs Netherlands would become a defacto knockout game.
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