T20 World Cup 2024: 'Whole Event is Geared Towards India' - Michael Vaughan on Guyana Semi-Final Being Altered

Add as a preferred source on Google

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan has said the T20 World Cup 2024 is "geared towards India" by pointing out how the South Africa vs Afghanistan game was moved from the second semi-final to the first semi-final.

If the matches were scheduled like every other tournament, India vs England should have been the first semi-final on Wednesday (June 26), and South Africa vs Afghanistan had to be the second semi-final on Thursday (June 27).

But ICC made an alteration to fit Indian viewership with both semi-finals being swapped. Vaughan made this comment when Afghanistan lost by 9 wickets in the first sem-final against South Africa at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Wednesday (June 26) night.

Just under 48 hours since creating history in St Vincent, Afghanistan, who had a four-hour flight delay to get to Trinidad, were forced to play in the first semi-final, in which they were bundled out for just 56.

In response, South Africa chased the score down in 8.5 overs. During the match, Vaughan had picked up on the comments made by Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan, who revealed they had the flight delay.

"When you have a 4-hour delay flight, it is not easy. Does not matter if you sleep 1 hour, you have to be at your best," Rashid said at the toss when he opted to bat first, which many felt was the best choice. However, the batting unit failed to counter to challenging wicket.

The former England captain had taken to social media to call out ICC for the scheduling, stating Afghanistan did not get the opportunity to get accustomed to the new venue, and highlighted lack of respect for the players.

"So Afghanistan qualify for the WC semi winning in St Vincent on Monday night .. 4 hr flight delay on Tues to Trinidad so no time to practice or get accustomed to a new venue .. utter lack of respect to players i am afraid," Vaughan posted on X.

Later, Vaughan aimed at the ICC with regards to the schedule favouring India as the Afghanistan game should have ideally been the one on Thursday (June 27) morning in Guyana.

"Surely this Semi should have been the Guyana one .. but because the whole event is geared towards India it's so unfair on others .." Vaughan posted in another tweet.

India as Group 1 winners in Super Eight will progress to the final without even playing the semi-final against England in Guyana, where there is forecast for rain for most of the day. The former England captain was also critical of ICC for not getting enough covers to protect the field.

"So huge rain forecasted .. It's the monsoon season so I get it .. so why so few covers for the whole outfield !!!!! surely you get more covers so we cover the whole ground !!!!!!!!" Vaughan said in response to another tweet.

ICC has earned a lot of flak for the schedule of the T20 World Cup 2024 in which India has played in only day games. While some may say it's due to viewership, some have bluntly said it's the power of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

West Indies legend Chris Gayle had said India runs cricket and no one can challenge the authority of the BCCI, pointing out the other boards are helpless.

"No one can speak to India. India runs cricket, you know? It's a fact. Who is going to talk to India? Who is going to challenge India? No one. They control cricket," Gayle was quoted as saying by DafaNews.