'No reserve day?' - Stuart Broad gives thumbs down to ICC after England’s elimination from Women's T20 World Cup

The first semi-final of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was to be played between India, who topped group A and England, who finished second in Group B. These two teams had previously met twice in ICC event knockouts in two years with England coming on top in both. England Women won the final of ICC World Cup 2017 and semi-finals of ICC Women’s World T20 in 2018.

This time as well, the clash of the two teams was highly anticipated. But the threat of looming rain in Sydney became a reality as it poured heavily at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the venue of both the semi-finals. Even after waiting for a long time, rains didn’t stop and finally, the officials took the decision to call the match off. This meant India went through to the finals on basis of them topping their group, while England Women went back home.

Stuart Broad takes a sarcastic dig at ICC

Earlier, the ICC was requested by Cricket Australia to keep a reserve day for knock out game in Sydney given the possibility of heavy showers. However, the request was turned down by the cricket’s governing body.

“The ICC T20 World Cups are short sharp events where reserve days are factored in for the final. Allowing for any other reserve days would have extended the length of the event, which isn’t feasible. There is a clear and fair alternative should there be no play in any of the semi-finals with the winner of the group progressing,” an ICC spokesperson was quoted as saying by India Today.

But with England, last edition’s finalists being knocked out in this manner, it left a sour taste in many of their supporter’s mouths and Men’s team’s premier Test pacer Stuart Broad is one of them. The second-highest wicket-taker for England in Tests was not happy with the women’s team getting eliminated in such a way and showed his displeasure by commenting on ICC’s Instagram post mentioning the result of the match.

Broad used thumbs down emojis and wrote, “what no reserve day @icc? Seems sensible,”

Meanwhile, the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa got underway without any problems, but if that also washes out, South Africa will go through to the finals to meet India. ICC, however, has allowed a reserve day for the finals, in case it rains on the scheduled day. But if both days are washed out, India and the other finalist will share the trophy and announced as joint winners.