ICC World Cup 2023 Semi-Final Rain Rules: What Happens If Weather Interrupts Play?

ICC World Cup 2023 Semi-Final Rain Rules: The 50-over show-piece tournament has reached the climax stage with four teams set to compete in the knock out stages, starting from Wednesday (November 15).

The ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final will be played at two iconic venues in India - the first encounter at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai followed by the second clast at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

With both the last four matches also happening at the end of the retreating monsoon season in India, there is a possibility of weather playing spoilsport by leading to truncated to games or even a complete wash out.

If there is rain or any other delay, what is the cut off time for the match to be completed and what happens if there is no play possible on the scheduled match day? Is there any reserve day? Check out the playing conditions and rules for ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals.

What is the playing hours in the ICC World Cup 2023 match? (All times local - IST)

The semi-final match will start on the scheduled day with the first innings at 2 PM, and end at 5:30 PM, after a 30-minutes break, the second innings will resume at 6 PM and will end at 9:30 PM.

World Cup 2023 Semi-Final Playing Hours

1st Session: 2 PM to 5:30 PM IST
Interval: 5:30 PM to 6 PM IST
2nd Session: 6 PM to 9:30 PM IST

The playing hours could vary depending on some stoppages like drinks break or any injury that requires treatment. So, the closing time could be extended a little, for example, the first innings could end around 5:40 PM or 5:45 PM instead of 5:30 PM IST.

What if there is an interruption due to weather or any other unavoidable circumstances?

There will be 120 minutes of extra time available to complete the match. This only applies when there is interruption due to weather or any other unavoidable circumstances.

The extension window is allowed to have a complete match if possible, meaning if there were 2 hours (120 minutes) lost due to the weather, then the match will be played without overs lost by using that window.

If the delay or interruption is more than 120 minutes, then the overs will be reduced based on the calculation of Duckworth-Lewis-Stren method. An over will be lost for every five minute delay post the 120 minute window.

For example, if the match stops at 6 PM and then there is no play possible until 8 PM, then there will be no overs lost, but if the interruption exceeds over that time, then we will lose an over for every 5 minutes lost until it comes down to 20 overs.

What happens if the said match has not completed on the scheduled day? Is there any reserve day?

There is a reserve day for both the semi-finals, meaning the match can be completed on the next day if there was no result possible on the scheduled day of match despite the use of Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) Method to calculate target and reduce overs.

This only applies when it is impossible to hold a minimum 20-over per side game or both sides have played a minimum of 20 overs despite using the 120 minutes extension time (Note: The team chasing should have faced 20 overs at least to determine a result).

If the above is not possible, then the match will be continue from the time of stoppage on the reserve day. In case the match is washed out on the scheduled day without a ball being bowled, then the match will start afresh.

What happens if the reserve day also is interrupted by weather?

The same 120 minutes extension window will also be available for the reserve day. But it is highly likely that the game will be completed on the scheduled day if deemed safe for all involved.

And if there is no result or match possible on the scheduled day and the reserve day of the match despite using the extra time and DLS calculated target, the match will be called off with the team that finished higher on the points table moving into the final.

Here is what ICC's playing conditions state for the use of reserve day during the World Cup 2023 knock out stages and what happens if the match is incomplete on the scheduled day:

The Semi-Finals and Final will have a reserve day allocated on which an incomplete match can be continued from the scheduled day. Even 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.

Only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match (that is 20 overs each) cannot be bowled on the scheduled day, the match can be completed on the reserve day.

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.

If there is no play possible on the scheduled match day despite using the 120 minutes extension time, the whole game will be played on the reserve day as a fifty-over match.

When is the ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal taking place and when is the reserve day?

The first semifinal will be played on November 15 between India and New Zealand with the reserve day on November 16, followed by the second semifinal on November 16 between Australia and South Africa with the reserve day on November 17.