'Whole Event Geared Towards India... So Unfair On Others': Michael Vaughan Lambasts ICC for Harsh Scheduling of Semi-Final for Afghanistan

From sheer jubilation yesterday to shock today, Afghanistan has witnessed a disastrous change of fortune within the last 48 hours, as the team slumped to a historic total of 56 runs and incurred a 9-wicket loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa today.

But, was there perhaps more to the tale than just luck and momentum? Well, former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes so.

Following Afghanistan’s collapse, Vaughan took to X, to share his thoughts on the treacherous scheduling of the Afghan’s semi-final match-up.

But, Vaughan’s criticism did not stop there. In fact, he took it one step further, stating that the choice of location chosen for the first semi-final was nowhere near fair for the Afghans, and stated that the ICC only seems to favour the Indian cricket team and their best interests at all costs.

Whilst it is true that perhaps the location for the same, or even the timing of the match-up could have been different, it is no secret that the Indian team were bound to be handed the marquee encounter at the more commercially-attractive time slot (as per IST), as India takes on England tonight later in the evening.

But, regardless of what may have, could have and should have been, there is no undoing what transpired in Trinidad and Tobago today: an utter demolition of the Afghanistan team by the Proteas.

Afghanistan were bundled out for a dismal total of 56 runs in 11.5 overs, as the likes of Jansen, Shamsi, Rabada, and Nortje ran riot over them in the first innings.

It is hard to pick out any positives for the spirited Afghans, who were slaughtered without any mercy by South Africa’s bowling order, who took their turns toying and inflicting misery on the Afghanistan batting order.

The pace trio of Marco Jansen (3/16), Kagiso Rabada (2/14) and Anrich Nortje (2/7) shared seven wickets among themselves while spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3/6) claimed three wickets.

And on the other hand, except for the initial pressure from Fazalhaq Farooqi, who removed opener Quinton de Kock early, there was no stopping South Africa, who under the leadership of Markram and Reeza Hendricks, cruised to the total in just 8.5 overs.

In the end, the Proteas clinched a 9-wicket win over the Afghans to book their place in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, their first-ever appearance in the same.

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