The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 group-stage encounter between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was abandoned due to rain on Tuesday, the second consecutive match to face the same fate and the third overall. Conditions were gloomy at Bristol from the morning and eventually, the match had to called off by the umpires without a ball being bowled, with both the teams dividing a point each.
This decision means that an unwanted record has been set by hosts England for the most number of abandoned games in a World Cup edition, surpassing that of 1992 and 2003 which saw two each. The first was between the same Sri Lankan side and Pakistan last Friday, while the other one was on Monday between South Africa and the West Indies.
With ICC scheduling reserve days for only the semi-finals and the final, the fate of the remaining group-stage fixtures hangs in the air, considering the fact that it could have a major bearing on which sides qualify for the last four.
'Headache'
Former England wicket-keeper and present Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes, when asked if he would have included reserve days in the 10-team round-robin phase, replied: "Yeah, I would. If you know the English weather, sadly, we're going to get a lot of rain.”
"I know logistically, it would have been a big headache for the tournament organisers, and I know it would have been difficult," he added of a World Cup that features 48 matches in 46 days. 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," said Rhodes, whose Bangladesh team next play the West Indies in Taunton on June 17.”
"We put men on the moon, so why can't we have a reserve day, when actually this tournament is a long tournament? It's disappointing for the crowd, as well. They have got tickets to see a game of cricket and it would be up to them if they can get there the day after."
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne endorsed Rhodes's comments by saying: "It is not easy, but I feel if they can have a reserve day, it will be good for everyone."
'Massively sad'
Only one of three World Cup matches scheduled to take place in Bristol produced any play, champions Australia launching their title defence with a seven-wicket victory over outsiders Afghanistan.
"It's massively gutting. These are things that are four-and-a-half years in the making,” Gloucestershire chief executive Will Brown told AFP. "It's massively sad for the fans."
Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Munir Ur Zaman
