Cricket Australia says ICC refuses reserve day for T20 semis

Cricket Australia says its request for ICC to have reserve days for women's Twenty20 World Cup semifinals has been denied, with heavy rain threatening both of Thursday's games.

A reserve day was built into schedule for kckout sts of men's 50-over World Cup in England last year, and New Zealand qualified for final by beating India in what was effectively a two-day match.

CA chief executive Kevin Roberts on Wednesday said with heavy rain in forecast for Sydney Cricket Ground semifinal doubleheader on Thursday, a call had been made to International Cricket Council.

But Roberts said such proviso is in place for T20 tournaments, meaning both Australia and England could be kcked out without a ball bowled. South Africa and India would play in Sunday's final at Melbourne Cricket Ground after finishing atop ir groups, meaning re'd be a first-time titlist.

India is scheduled to play England first on Thursday, followed by four-time champion Australia and South Africa.

"We've asked question (on a reserve day)," Roberts told a Melbourne radio station. “It's t part of playing conditions and we respect that. It gives you cause to reflect and think about how you might improve things in future."

England captain Hear Knight said she was frustrated by lack of a reserve day and perplexed by different rules between tournaments.

“It would be nice if we could maybe play it in (Melbourne), I don't kw if that's feasible, it's probably t,” she said. “If both semifinals are lost it would be a sad time for tournament.

“I guess it's same for men's T20 World Cup. We did check that this morning. It is ... strange.”