"Then you would have felt why you are playing in a hurricane season" - Aakash Chopra on rain almost knocking England out of the 2024 T20 World Cup
Aakash Chopra has noted that questions would have been raised about the 2024 T20 World Cup being staged in a rainy season had England been knocked out due to a no-result. The defending champions' must-win final Group B game against Namibia in Antigua on Saturday, June 15, was under threat due to rain.
However, with the rain gods relenting, England registered a 41-run win via the DLS method in a 10-over game to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. Australia beat Scotland by five wickets later in the day to help Jos Buttler and company make it to the next stage.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra noted that England were on the verge of getting knocked out due to inclement weather and that questions would have been raised about the tournament's timing if they were eliminated.
"The England match against Namibia kept getting late. It started very late at night but a 10-over match eventually happened. If that match had not happened, England would have gone home because they needed to win that game as they had lost a match to Australia, which is okay, and a match against Scotland was washed out," he said (4:10).
"Then they thrashed Oman badly and improved their net run rate but if the last match against Namibia had been washed out, the story would have been over, and then you would have felt why you are playing in a hurricane season, as it has been raining so much here," the former India opener added.
Harry Brook's unbeaten 20-ball 47 helped England post 122/5 in 10 overs. Their bowlers then restricted Namibia to 84/3 after Gerhard Erasmus and company were set a revised 126-run target.
"At one point, it seemed like Australia might lose that match" - Aakash Chopra on England needing their arch-rivals to beat Scotland
Aakash Chopra observed that Australia were in trouble against Scotland at one stage before Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David's knocks helped them chase a big target down.
"Even after they (England) won there, Australia was there against Scotland. At one point, it seemed like Australia might lose that match because Scotland scored a lot of runs. I saw an Australian fielding package. They dropped so many catches but they eventually won the match based on Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis and Tim David's performances," he said (4:45).
The reputed commentator noted that while the defending champions were saved, last edition's finalists Pakistan were knocked out.
"Australia have themselves qualified and England also qualified. The defending champions have reached the Super Eights but the finalists have gone home. EK 601 - that's what Wasim bhai (Akram) said. They have gone in that," Chopra added.
Pakistan were knocked out of the ongoing T20 World Cup after the United States of America's final Group A clash against Ireland in Florida on Friday, June 14, was abandoned. The Men in Green finished their campaign with an unconvincing three-wicket win in an inconsequential game against the Irish at the same venue on Sunday, June 16.