According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given the Indian team a good time for a possible semi-final match in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The tournament, hosted by the United States and the West Indies, will begin on June 1. India, who have been drawn in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, will play their group games with the hope of securing a knockout spot.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, if Rohit Sharma’s team reaches the semi-finals, they will play their second scheduled match in Providence, Guyana. This is an important development as the timings for the two semi-finals are very different.
The first semi-final in Tarouba, Trinidad will start at 8:30 am local time and will be 6:00 am in India. This time the venue will be a challenge for Indian fans who want to witness their team’s important encounter.
On the other hand, India’s second semi-final, which can be played at 10:30 am local time, gives fans a better time, which is 8:00 am in India. This time slot coincides with the prime time viewing hours and can lead to increased viewership for the high octane clash.
The World Cup final is scheduled to be played on June 29 at 10:00 am local time (7:30 am IST) as the match of the day. Interestingly, there will be no reserve day in the second semi-final, giving them an extra 250 minutes to make up for the delay. However, the first semi-final and final will have reserve days in case of unforeseen circumstances.
At least ten overs will be required for each team to ensure a fair contest even if a reserve day is held to achieve a crucial result in a knock-out match. The traditional rule of the second batting team will also be used in the World Cup, where a team must face at least five overs in case of obstruction.
With 55 matches scheduled across nine venues across the West Indies and the US, cricket fans are in for an exciting month. The tournament promises to be a spectacle and India’s exciting semi-final draw adds another dimension.