T20 World Cup 2024: Why 2nd Semifinal in Guyana has No Reserve Day?

It has come as a major surprise to many, as reports suggest that the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will have a major tweak in its schedule.

As per a report from Cricbuzz, the notion comes as the 2nd Semifinal of the T20 World Cup will not have any Reserve Day.

The 2nd semifinal of the tournament is set to be played in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana. The Providence Stadium will host the match. But the reports are coming that if there is a washout or a postponement of the match, the knockout clash won't extend for another day.

T20 World Cup 2024: What will happen if 2nd Semifinal is Washed Out?

The first semifinal is set to be played on June 26 while the second one will be played on June 27.

Generally, the ICC schedule ensures one reserve day for all knockout fixtures if the match can't be completed on the scheduled date. But in this case, the team finishing in a higher position in the Super Eights will advance to the Final.

Instead of a reserve day, an extra 250 minutes will be produced to finish the match. The 2nd semifinal is scheduled to be played on 10:30 am local time and that means the umpires will have a chance to conduct the match till the evening of that day.

But if they fail to finish the match by that stipulated time, the lower-placed team will have to bid adieu to the tournament.

T20 WC 2024: Why 2nd Semifinal in Guyana have NO Reserve Day?

The 2nd semifinal in Guyana won't have a Reserve Day because of the travelling and ICC scheduling constraints. The Final is set to be played on June 29, and the match will start at 10:30 am Local Time on that day as well.

Hence, if the 2nd semifinal goes to the Reserve Day, the winning team will have to play the Final the very next day, with a time of less than 24 hours. Also, the Final will be played in Barbados, which means the winning team of the 2nd Semifinal will have to take a flight and travel around 700 kms to reach the Final venue.

It will be not just a disaster for logistics, but tremendously hectic for players as well. Hence, the decision has been taken to not allow any Reserve Day for the 2nd semifinal in Guyana.

Can't the Two Semifinals be played on the Same Day?

The 1st semifinal is scheduled for June 26 and it will be an evening 8:30 pm local time start in Trinidad and Tobago's Port of Spain. Although the Super Eight matches will be ending by June 24, the 2nd semifinal hasn't been slotted in the morning of June 26. Also, both matches can't be played simultaneously for broadcasting reasons.