MELBOURNE: Pakistan and England might be left with no option but to share the T20 World Cup if rain hits Sunday’s final match in Melbourne. World Cup organizers are reported to have changed the playing regulations ahead of Sunday’s T20 men’s final as rain threatens to disrupt the match.
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Pakistan and England are scheduled to meet at 7pm local time (8am GMT) at the MCG, but the city has been plagued by heavy rain over the past month and showers are forecast for the game.
Rain has blighted much of the tournament this year, with a host of matches affected or called off altogether by the weather. According to local Met Office forecast, there are 60% chance of rain on Sunday and 80% chance of rain happening on Monday.
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The Marvel stadium in Melbourne, which has a retractable roof, cannot be used due to logistical issues.
It may be recalled that England’s meeting with Australia was washed out at the MCG and they were beaten by Ireland due to the Duckworth-Lewis method as a result of heavy rain at the same ground. Four matches at this year’s T20 World Cup have already been hit by the weather with three matches in Melbourne washed out completely and two decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
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According to the ICC rules, a minimum of 10 overs a side is needed to complete a final. Although, as per reports, ICC is ready to bend the rules to get the results. ICC organizers are mulling over increasing the allocated time to complete a match.
However, in a worst case scenario, if a 10-over-per-side contest cannot transpire, then England and Pakistan will be declared joint winners, in what would be a tournament first.
