BRISTOL, Tuesday: Following yesterdays was hout of the World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh the captain of the Sri Lanka team and the head coach of Bangladesh both called for reserve days to be introduced.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne said, “If the ICC can give a reserve day its fine. It’s a major tournament and we are playing 9 games. I don’t think it is possible to give us an additional day because we have to travel the day after the match. It is not easy but I feel if they can have a reserve day it will be good for everyone.”
Steve Rhodes the former England wicket-keeper and coach currently head coach of Bangladesh was also in agreement with Karunaratne when he said, “Yeah, I would. If you know the English weather, sadly, we’re going to get a lot of rain. We never know when the rain’s going to come. People from all over the world keep asking me whether it’s going to rain; I don’t know. But at the moment, we’re seeing some problems. And I know logistically, it would have been a big headache for the tournament organisers, and I know that it would have been difficult, but we have got quite a lot of time in between games, and if we have got to travel a day later, then so be it.
“We put men on the moon (laughing) so why can’t we have a reserve day, when actually this tournament is a long tournament. They are spread out, the games. I would say that it’s disappointing for the crowd, as well. They have got tickets to see a game of cricket, and you know, it would be up to them if they can get there the day after,” he said.
The ongoing rain is a bad advertisement for the ICC because it has not only deprived several cricket fans of their money’s worth of cricket but also the television broadcasters who have nothing to show but only past matches.
The ICC we are told will fully refund the ticket cost if a ball is not bowled at all in a match which is some relief for the frustrated fans some of whom who have travelled from far and wide to the venues to watch their favourite teams play.
Also, the 2019 World Cup is heading for an unusual record as already it has suffered two complete washouts both involving Sri Lanka – against Pakistan and against Bangladesh at Bristol. In the past history of the 11 previous World Cups there have been only two instances of a complete washout of matches without a ball bowled - in 1979 – Sri Lanka v West Indies at the Oval and 2015 – Australia v Bangladesh at Brisbane.
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