Rhodes rues lack of reserve day in group stages

Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes was very upset that the World Cup, cricket’s premier tournament, didn’t have a reserve day during the group stages.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had their match washed out in Bristol without the toss even taking place and that came as a big blow to Bangladesh’s chances of reaching the semi finals as they were the more fancied team against a Sri Lanka team in transition.  

"We put men on the moon, so why can't we have a reserve day, when actually this tournament is a long tournament," Steve Rhodes asked during the post-match press conference on Tuesday.

Rhodes understood the difficulties that the tournament organisers, the International Cricket Council (ICC), would have to deal with but he also explained that it was still possible to have the reserve day as the teams had ample time to travel and recoup between games.

"I know logistically it would have been a big headache for the tournament organisers," Rhodes began at the post-match press conference. "I know that it would have been difficult, but we have got quite a lot of time in between games, and if we have got to travel a day later, then so be it.”

Bangladesh previously got the benefit of rain as they had one of their matches against Australia washed out in the Champions Trophy in 2017 and that point helped them reach the semi finals of the tournament, also held in England. Even in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh’s match against Australia was washed out for a cyclone, and that point helped Bangladesh to qualify for the quarter finals.

"The games are spread out. I would say that it's disappointing for the crowd, as well. They have got tickets to see a game of cricket, and you know it would be up to them if they can get there the day after," Rhodes concluded.

Bangladesh play their next game against the Windies on Monday the 17th of June.