T20 World Cup officials have implemented a drastic rule change with the possibility of rain impacting Sunday’s final.
Thirty years on from their championship match in the 50-over tournament in Melbourne, England and Pakistan will go head to head once again at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The winner will join West Indies as the second team to win the shortest format’s premier event twice, but everyone will be hoping the match goes ahead without a hitch.
The rain has already impacted this tournament, especially the Afghanistan team who had two matches abandoned as a result. Now the event’s chiefs have made a big change in a bid to save the crunch showdown, should the weather play a part in proceedings this weekend.
To give the game the best chance of going ahead, MCG curators will also use extra covers on Sunday to ensure showers and a predicted thunderstorm which are expected to arrive in the afternoon and evening don't affect the game.
Tournament rules initially set out that should heavy rain impact the game, a back-up date is slated so as to save the fixture and avoid forcing England and Pakistan to share the trophy. However, it is also due to rain on the back-up date of Monday 14 November, meaning the ICC have now made "every effort" to ensure a game can be completed.
10 overs a side is needed to constitute a match but with approximately 25mm of rain forecast on Sunday, they may be difficult to achieve and the playing conditions now state that "there is 30 minutes of extra time available for the match to be completed on Sunday".
However, If play is unable to take place on Sunday, Monday has been kept as a reserve day but with heavy rain also expected on that day, the ICC have allotted an extra two hours to try and get the game played.
Should any action take place, T20 World Cup final will be shown on free-to-air TV, with Channel 4 sharing with Sky Sports. This is the latest partnership between Sky and Channel 4 to make a key sporting moment available to the nation.
Previous events include the iconic 2019 men’s super-over victory against New Zealand and the final race of the 2021 Formula 1 Championship in Abu Dhabi. Captain Jos Buttler has welcomed the move and said: “I'd be immensely happy with that. That would be fantastic for the game in our country.
“As many eyes as we can get on that final would be great. That would be brilliant. It's important that we always look for ways to grow our game and showcase cricket to the next generation especially. We really welcome that."
Jonathan Licht, Managing Director, Sky Sports said: “We know the importance of this game, so we are pleased to be able to share this great sporting moment with our whole nation thanks to our strong relationship with Channel 4. Whether you’re supporting England or Pakistan, this will be one to remember.”
Ian Katz, Chief Content Officer, Channel 4 added: “We are thrilled that Channel 4 and Sky have struck this deal to make another great national sporting moment available on free to air television to audiences across the UK. As the days draw in, some thrilling international cricket from the southern hemisphere should offer some welcome cheer.”
