No extra day for World Twenty20 semis and final

With rain playing spoilsport at most of the matches, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has not set aside reserve days for the semifinal and final matches of the World Twenty20.

Xinhua quoted an ICC media official saying that extra days have not been scheduled for the semifinals or the final in the event the games are washed out. But the official expressed confidence that the latter stages of the tournament will not be severely hampered by rain and that the final will also be held as scheduled.

The organisers have received the flak for hosting the tournament at a time when the weather is not favourable.  Sri Lankan cricket board secretary Nishantha Ranathunga said that the dates of the tournament fall under the Futures Tour Programme (FTP) of the ICC.

The meteorology department has predicted rain in Pallekele, Hambantota and Colombo, where the matches are being held.  The Super Eight stage of the World Twenty20 starts Thursday while the semifinals are slated for Oct 4-5 and the final for Oct 7.