The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly awarded the Indian team a favourable time slot for their potential semi-final clash in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States and West Indies, kicks off on June 1st. India, placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, will play their group stage matches with the hope of securing a knockout berth.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, if Rohit Sharma's team progresses to the semi-finals, they will play the second match scheduled for Providence, Guyana. This is a significant development as the timings for the two semi-finals differ vastly.
The first semi-final, to be held in Tarouba, Trinidad, starts at 8:30 PM local time, translating to a grueling 6:00 AM in India. This time slot would pose a challenge for Indian fans eager to witness their team's crucial encounter.
Conversely, the second semi-final, where India might be playing, boasts a much more fan-friendly time of 10:30 AM local time, which translates to a comfortable 8:00 PM in India. This timing aligns perfectly with prime viewing hours, potentially leading to a surge in viewership for the high-octane clash.
The final of the World Cup is scheduled for June 29th as a day game, starting at 10:00 AM local time (7:30 PM IST). Interestingly, the second semi-final will not have a reserve day, with only an additional 250 minutes allotted for delays. However, both the first semi-final and the final will have reserve days available in case of unforeseen circumstances.
A minimum of ten overs for each team will be mandatory to achieve a decisive result in the knockout matches, ensuring a fair contest even if a reserve day comes into play. The familiar rule of the team batting second needing to face at least five overs for a result in case of interruption will also apply to the World Cup.
With 55 matches scheduled across nine venues in the West Indies and the US, cricket fans are in for a thrilling month of action. The tournament promises to be a spectacle, and India's favourable semi-final slot adds another layer of intrigue
