Wet Outfield Washes Out India’s Last Group Game Against Canada

India missed out on the chance to try out different team combinations in their last Group A match of the T20 World Cup 2024. The game against Canada on Saturday, June 15 was canceled due to a wet outfield. The umpires conducted two official inspections and made the final decision by 9 pm IST.

India finished their campaign with 7 points from 4 matches. They secured victories against Ireland, Pakistan, and USA before their final Group A match was washed out. In fact, Rohit Sharma’s team became the first to qualify for the Super 8s from the group stage. USA caused an upset by defeating Pakistan, finishing ahead of the former champions and advancing to the next round in their debut appearance in the tournament.

With India having already secured a spot in the Super 8s and Canada out of contention, the umpires prioritized player safety. Overnight rain had left the outfield soggy. Despite diligent efforts by the groundstaff, the absence of outfield covers resulted in puddles forming on the ground. The conditions were deemed unsuitable for play, disappointing the fans who had turned out in large numbers at Lauderhill in Florida.

Interestingly, the umpires had delayed their pitch inspection by an additional hour for another Group A match between USA and Ireland. Pakistan’s aspirations were dashed when the game on Friday was called off without a single ball being bowled due to a wet outfield. Pakistan’s early elimination allowed co-hosts USA to advance to the Super 8s and secure their place in the T20 World Cup in 2026.

The inadequate drainage and absence of covers at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida have resulted in poor viewing experiences for three games: Sri Lanka vs Nepal on June 11, USA vs Ireland on June 15, and India vs Canada on June 15.