No one wants WC semifinalists to be decided on the basis of rain: Wasim Jaffer

Former India Test batter Wasim Jaffer has said that the best teams must qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. The four semifinalists are yet to be decided and things have become more intense in Group 1 following England’s impressive 20-run victory over an in-form New Zealand at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 1.

A victory here could have made the Kiwis the first team to make the last four in this competition, but their loss means that all the teams from Group 1 barring Afghanistan are still fighting for a semis berth.

No team would want the matches to get washed away in World Cup events: Wasim Jaffer

“No team wants this (washouts due to rain) especially in the World Cup events. You want the matches to take place and you get to know as well because even Bangladesh would like to believe that they are also in the race. You can’t come into the game thinking that we are going to lose. So, if you look at it practically, then even they (Bangladesh) are in the race and so, even they would not be wanting that the match should be abandoned and the points be shared due to rain,” said Jaffer while speaking on a Cricket Chat show

“It will be frustrating for both the teams (India and Bangladesh) and we don’t want especially at this time of the tournament for the semifinalists to be decided by rain. We would like them to play and over there we can find out who is the better team and who is not playing well on that particular day and we want the best team to qualify for the semifinals,” he added.

As of now, India and South Africa are the strong contenders from Group 2 to qualify for the semis with Zimbabwe and Bangladesh having a glimmer of a hope as well. The Netherlands have been eliminated having lost their first three matches and Pakistan are virtually out losing their first couple of fixtures against arch-rivals India and Zimbabwe respectively.