Mumbai: The venue for India’s World Cup semi-final is yet to be finalised. Also, ticket sales for the semi-finals have also been delayed.
The league round of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup has reached its final stage. While India and South Africa have already qualified for the semi-final round, now Australia has also entered as the 3rd team. As no team can get more than 14 points, India will finish the league at the top spot. South Africa and Australia, who have 12 points each, have one league match left each.
According to the fixture list the top team in the league round will face the 4th placed team in the semi-final round. In the other semi-final, the 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the league round will play a multi-match. In this way, South Africa – Australia teams are sure to clash in the 2nd semi-final. Because the last team entering the semi-final round cannot come close to the points of these two teams.
As the teams who will face each other in the 2nd semi-final are known, the expectation is high as to which team will play India in the first semi-final. New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last three teams to compete in the semi-final round. Only one team from this will meet India in the semi-final round.
Why is the field infinite? – Mumbai’s Wankhede and Kolkata’s Eden Gardens have been selected as the venues for the semi-finals. However, which of these two venues India will play at is yet to be finalised. The first semi-final was scheduled to be played between the top-ranked team and the fourth-placed team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Likewise, the second and third placed teams were scheduled to play in the second semi-final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Despite the plans, there is a problem. That is the request made by Pakistan. The country’s cricket board asked the ICC not to allow the Pakistan team to play in Mumbai, citing security threats in Mumbai. This has been approved. Accordingly, none of Pakistan’s matches have been held in Mumbai so far. Thus, perhaps Pakistan will face India if they finish fourth in the league round. As such, India’s semi-final match will be shifted from Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium to Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
Instead, the semi-final between South Africa and Australia, which was scheduled to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, will be shifted to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It is for these reasons that tickets for the two semi-final matches are not yet on sale. It is to be noted that the first semi-final will be held on November 15 and the second semi-final on November 16.
