The International Cricket Council (ICC) has faced massive criticism for not introducing the reserve days during the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020. However, the upcoming men’s tournament can get reserve days in all the knockout-stage matches.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, which Australia hosted from 21st February to 8th March 2020, entered into the big controversy during the semi-finals of that tournament. Both the semi-finals of that tournament, India Women vs England Women and Australia Women vs South Africa Women, were scheduled on the same day (5th March 2020) and also at the same venue (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney). Moreover, there were no reserve days for both the semi-finals.
While the first semi-final between India Women and England Women was abandoned due to rain, the next game between Australia Women and South Africa Women was also interrupted by rain but had a result.
After the ICC was heavily criticised for taking this kind of decision, they managed to provide a reserve-day for the final match of that tournament which was between Australia Women and India Women (at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, on 8th March 2020). However, that game was ended on the original final day without any rain interruption as Australia Women won that trophy after winning that final by 85 runs.
Currently, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 also has no reserve days, except the final match
Australia will again host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 from 18th October to 15th November 2020. At present, there are no reserve days for the semi-finals of this tournament. Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney) and Adelaide Oval (Adelaide) will host the semi-finals on 11th and 12th November 2020 respectively. Only the final match, which Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne) will host on 15th November 2020, has one reserve-day.
However, during the next ICC meeting, the playing conditions for the crucial matches of the global tournaments will be discussed. While this discussion is on the cards, there is still the possibility of getting reserve days in all the knockout-stage matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020.
The Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Kevin Roberts told cricket.com.au, “There’s always cause for reflection at the end of any tournament or any season, in terms of how you approach future tournaments.
“In saying that, there will be people who suggest there should be semi-final reserve days for the men’s.”
After the rain washout in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, India Women advanced to the final due to achieving more points than England Women during the Group Stages.
Roberts added, “But I’m not sure how the English women’s team would feel about that, not having had a reserve day in their leg of the tournament.
“I would imagine the playing conditions are in place for the women’s and men’s events within this tournament (in 2020) and can be discussed and considered after that’s completed.
“Typically, the playing conditions are determined before a tournament starts and we’ve got two events here – women’s and men’s – within the one tournament, albeit staged at different times of the year.”
Recently, the ICC has released the tournament schedule of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021. New Zealand will host this tournament from 6th February to 7th March 2021. This tournament has the reserve days in all the knockout-stage matches (semi-finals and final).