(Getty Images)
Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan expressed frustration with the ICC following a four-hour flight delay to Trinidad, where they competed in their semifinal against South Africa. The delay left them with minimal time to prepare after their qualifying victory over Bangladesh.
Due to the flight delay, Afghanistan had no opportunity to practice or adjust to the conditions ahead of their historic first-ever senior World Cup semifinal. The decision to schedule their semifinal in Trinidad instead of Guyana was reportedly made to accommodate prime-time viewership in India.
This incident adds to previous criticisms leveled at the ICC for their scheduling decisions, echoing similar concerns from the ODI World Cup 2023.
Rashid Khan criticized the ICC for the T20 World Cup 2024 schedule, emphasizing the challenge of performing at their best after enduring significant flight delays.
“When you have a 4-hour delay flight, it’s not easy. Doesn’t matter if you sleep 1 hour, you have to be at your best,” Rashid said after winning the toss and opting to bat first in the first semi-final against South Africa.
Rashid emphasized the necessity for improved planning and greater consideration in future ICC tournaments. While scheduling matches is undoubtedly complex, the board must prioritize understanding the players’ requirements. The disrupted sleep cycles due to such scheduling not only affect recovery but also impact on-field performance significantly, leaving little time for adequate rest or practice.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan echoed Rashid’s sentiments by criticizing the ICC for disrespecting players and accused them of showing undue favoritism towards India.
South Africa secured their first-ever men’s World Cup final berth by defeating Afghanistan in a dominant fashion in the first semi-final. The Proteas showcased superb bowling to dismantle Afghanistan, who were bowled out for just 56 runs. South Africa comfortably chased down the target in the ninth over with 9 wickets remaining. Marco Jansen’s impressive bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award, finishing with figures of 3-16.
