ICC makes a massive change to playing conditions of PAK-ENG final after rain threat

After almost a month since the start of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, the final two teams will lock horns to get their hands on the World T20 title on Sunday. Pakistan will play against England on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Both teams are coming off dominating wins in the semi-finals. Pakistan thrashed New Zealand in their game, while England humiliated India with a 10-wicket win. Now these two teams will meet in the final of the tournament. However, the biggest concern ahead of the final is the weather forecast in Melbourne.

As per the Bureau of Meteorology, there are 95% chances that it will rain on Sunday during the scheduled game time, which might be a spoilsport. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has scheduled a reserve day in case the game gets washed out on Sunday.

Then, the game can be resumed the next day from the same point where it was stopped. However, the ICC has also made some necessary changes to the playing conditions for the final game. The playing time on reserve days, which used to be two hours, has been increased to four hours.

That means in case it rains on reserve day as well, there are an additional two hours to it. Notably, it was previously announced that a minimum of 10 overs should be bowled in each innings in order to get a result.

The ICC said in a press release that "the Event Technical Committee (ETC) has increased the provision of additional playing time on the reserve day to four hours from the original provision of two hours (clause 13.7.3 of the Playing Conditions), in case more time is required to complete the match and get a result."

However, it is also important that if a 10-over game can't happen on Sunday due to rain, then on the reserve day it will start at 9:30 a.m. IST. But there will be an extra 30 minutes over the scheduled time on Sunday, and on reserve day, four hours are another option.

A super over is possible if the game is tied and the minimum of 10 overs is bowled. If both days are rained out, there will not be a super bowl, and both teams will be declared joint winners.