The 2024 T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa will offer the first-ever invincible run to the title in the tournament’s history. That is, if the weather gods are gracious enough.
The much anticipated contest is likely to be spoiled by rain. According to an information issued by the Barbados Meteorological Service on Thursday (June 27), by Saturday, a tropical storm is expected to affect the island on the day of the IND vs SA final. According to weather reports, there is a high chance of rainfall throughout the day on June 29 in Barbados. The prediction is equally grim for Sunday, that has been named by the ICC as the reserve day to complete the final.
But after how long will it be determined that the game can’t be played on Saturday? If we get to a stage of losing overs, what are the minimum number of overs each side will be required to play to determine a winner? And, how much extra time has been added to see through the completion of the game? Below is all you need to know about the playing conditions of the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup final.
Minimum overs of play
As per ICC’s playing conditions for the summit clash, cricket’s world governing body stressed, “Every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs taking place, and only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day.”
In order to achieve a result, the ICC deems it necessary that both teams play a contest of a minimum of 10 overs.
Additional time
In order to achieve the result on the scheduled day of the final, ICC have allotted another 190 minutes for the completion of the game. In the India-England semi-final, the extra time allotted before the play is called off was 250 minutes, given the fact that the game didn’t have a reserve day.
Reserve day conditions
If no play is possible on the scheduled day, the match will begin at the same time on Sunday – the reserve day. If the play is halted on Saturday, and overs are reduced owing to time loss but the game doesn’t resume, then the match will resume on Sunday as a full 20-overs-a-side contest. But if the play is halted on the scheduled day, overs are lost and the play resumes the same day before the rain halts the game again, it will continue as a shortened contest even if the match shifts to the reserve day.
The ICC explain it giving two instances:
Example 1: Match starts at 20 overs per side and there is an interruption at 9 overs. Overs are reduced to 17 overs per side and play is about to resume. Before another ball is bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match did not resume under the revised overs, the match should continue on the Reserve Day at the original 20 overs per side with the overs reduced if necessary during the Reserve Day.
Example 2: The same start as in example 1 i.e. match starts at 20 overs per side and there is an interruption at 9 overs. Overs are reduced to 17 overs per side and play is about to resume. This time, play starts and after an over has been bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match has resumed, it is continued on the Reserve Day at 17 overs per side with the overs further reduced if necessary during the Reserve Day.
What happens if the reserve day is also washed out?
In case a result isn’t achieved on both days, the trophy will be shared by both teams. As was the case in the 2002 Champions Trophy when India shared the title with Sri Lanka.
