Cricket T20 World Cup: Rule change could see play for final in Melbourne extended

Cricket’s long-standing wet weather rules could be rewritten to avoid washing away the blockbuster Twenty20 World Cup final in Melbourne.

Local organizers of the International Cricket Council are said to be considering the drastic change to satisfy sponsors and a global audience of millions eager to see a definitive winner take the trophy.

The showpiece is scheduled for Sunday evening, but wet weather is forecast at the MCG. Tournament rules stipulate that in that situation a backup date will be scheduled to save the match and avoid forcing England and Pakistan to share the trophy.

However, it is also due to rain on the Monday 14 November backup date, meaning the ICC has taken drastic steps to shift the start time when it is less likely to rain in Melbourne.

The T20 World Cup final could be an outgrowth this weekend, leading to a drastic rule change to ensure there is a winner (Photo: Ground crew at the MCG earlier this month)

A minimum of 10 overs per team is required to form a match, unlike the group stage where only five overs per side were required to complete a game.

This could be difficult as Melbourne predicts it will receive up to 25mm of rain on Sunday when the resurgent Pakistan will meet England in front of more than 90,000 people in the MCG.

If the final has been washed out, the ICC will have left Monday as a reserve day, with play starting at 3 p.m. and resuming on Sunday where it was interrupted.

But Melbourne’s weather looks just as ominous on Monday, with a 95 percent chance of showers and up to 10mm of rain.

Under existing ICC rules, a match can only be interrupted for a certain amount of time before it has to be abandoned.

But as both days looked like shit, organizers were able to break tradition and push back Monday’s 3 p.m. start well into the evening.

The required rule change has not been officially ratified but has the support of players, team staff and officials, according to newscorp.

Pakistan takes on England in the final (Photo: Fans watch the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan on October 23)

MCG trustees will also use additional covers on Sunday to ensure showers and a predicted thunderstorm, expected to arrive in the afternoon and evening, do not derail the scheduled AEDT start at 7 p.m.

Melbourne has an indoor venue, Marvel Stadium, which is just 3 miles away from the MCG, but there’s no chance the ICC will consider moving the game to the Docklands site.

Marvel has yet to make its drop-in pitch, not to mention logistically redistributing tickets would be nearly impossible in the short term.

England captain Jos Buttler threw India at the sword and booked England’s place in Sunday’s final

The rain forecast for the weekend follows three games in the MCG during the group stage that were canceled due to wet weather and another game was cut short due to rain.

Australia’s clash with England at the famous venue was washed out without a ball being thrown as the teams split the points.

The hosts missed qualifying for the semi-finals and defended the title they won in the UAE last year on net run-rate.

The opening game of the tournament in the MCG was an all-time classic as India defeated Pakistan on the final ball before a pulsating crowd of 90,293.

A rematch between the famous rivals in the final could break the MCG’s record attendance at a cricket match – 93,013 during the 2015 ODI World Cup final.