The T20 World Cup 2024 is in full swing, but the unpredictable weather in Florida has thrown a spanner in the works. A tropical disturbance has brought a rare flash flood emergency to southern Florida, including the venue in Lauderhill, where three Group A matches are scheduled to take place over the next three days.
The weather forecast is ominous, with heavy rain expected throughout the period, and a “flood watch” remaining in effect until Friday evening.
The first match of the tournament, between Nepal and Sri Lanka, was already washed out due to the inclement weather. Now, three more fixtures – USA vs Ireland, Canada vs India, and Ireland vs Pakistan – are at risk of being affected. The matches are set to take place at 10:30 am local time, but the heavy rain may make it difficult for the teams to take to the field.
As things stand, all four teams in Group A – USA, Canada, Ireland, and Pakistan – are still mathematically eligible to qualify for the next round. The 2022 T20 World Cup finalists Pakistan have won just one of their three games so far and can still make it through if they beat Ireland and USA loses to them. If either of these matches is washed out, then USA will qualify.
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The washout on June 11 had already affected Group D, leaving Sri Lanka and Nepal on the brink of elimination. In this scenario, a minimum of five overs is required to constitute a match, and there are no reserve days for the group-stage matches.
However, the first semi-final and the final do have reserve days, which may come into play if the weather continues to be a major factor.
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The T20 World Cup 2024 is being held in Florida for the first time, and the unpredictable weather is proving to be a challenge for the teams and organizers alike. With the forecast suggesting heavy rain throughout the period, it remains to be seen whether the matches will go ahead as scheduled. Fingers crossed for a better weather forecast!