Match 16: Rain Rules Again as World Cup Stalls

The World Cup of Rain has treated us to another spectacle, this time with the abandonment of the match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh without the toss even occurring. It is the second match that has been a complete washout, and along with yesterday’s match lasting less than eight overs, and the threat that tomorrow’s match between Australia and Pakistan also could have no result, there is a real chance that finals spots could now be affected by these drawn fixtures. 

Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes lamented the lack of spare days following this washout, though to be fair with both games over the past two days, a spare day would not have helped unless the games were being moved to Dubai as the rain has well and truly set in over those two venues. It is a difficult thing to do a schedule and also stitch in reserve days for inevitable weather delays, but if there is anywhere it should be done it has to be England. 

Have the washouts been costly yet? Perhaps not. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are unlikely to be pushing for finals places, and after their disastrous start neither is South Africa. The West Indies may be ruing only picking up a point against South Africa but perhaps may also be quietly happy about it. 

The 2017 Champions Trophy, won by Pakistan, had the same problems. Australia was washed out in two of their three games before losing to England, and missed the semi-final as a result. The longer the rain goes the greater the probability that a team or teams will have their qualifications for the end of the tournament decided by rain rather than performance on the field. 

No matter what, the weather doesn’t look good for the rest of this second week of the tournament, and while no games may be completely abandoned, there is a real chance that shortened matches decided by Duckworth-Lewis will occur, and this may be where the whole tournament is turned on its head.