GUYANA: The coin toss for the highly-anticipated second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 between defending champions England and India has been delayed due to a wet outfield here at Providence Stadium.
According to the details, it is not currently raining here but the outfield is not yet suitable for the action.
A few members of the ground staff walked out and the pipes used to keep the covers grounded are being removed.
The situation indicates that the ground staff will get the field ready for the action in around 30 minutes if the rain does not return.
Earlier, the weather forecast suggested that it is likely to rain throughout the day, with the downpour likely to intensify after 10:00 AM local time, half an hour before the scheduled start of the match at 10:30 AM.
There were 66 per cent chances of rain at the scheduled time of the coin toss which would increase to 75 per cent an hour late.
The chances of rain will then significantly reduce to as low as 34 per cent between 1 PM and 2 PM.
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For the unversed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not schedule a reserve day for the second semi-final.
The apex cricketing body, however, allocated an extra time of 250 minutes for the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 between India and England, in a bid to give the ground staff ample time to prepare the field if rain allows.
The winner of the second semi-final will face South Africa in the final, who outclassed Afghanistan in the first knockout game earlier today in Trinidad.
The Proteas bundled out Afghanistan on a meagre 56 and chased down the target for the loss of just one wicket and 67 balls to spare.
If the second semi-final gets abandoned then the team with a superior record in the Super Eight stage will qualify for the final.
Therefore, India will advance into the T20 World Cup 2024 final as the 2007 champions topped Group 1 standings with three victories in three matches. Whereas, England concluded the stage second with two victories in three matches.
READ: Afghanistan coach blames pitch after semi-final defeat against South Africa