The Men's T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Ireland in Group 1 has been called off owing to continuous rain at the storied Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. Not a single ball has been played (MCG).
Now each team will score one point. With Friday's game, there have now been three games postponed due to rain this week. After the washout against New Zealand on Wednesday at the same site, this is Afghanistan's second consecutive loss.
For the majority of the day, the MCG experienced persistent rain, which was the reason why ground workers kept the coverings on and the surface covered. Play was eventually suspended just after 4:30 pm in Melbourne, eliminating any chance of a shortened game despite rain being predicted for the entirety of Friday.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi stated, "The majority of the players are sad since they haven't played on such a wonderful stadium. Rashid and I have played, but others haven't, and weather is out of our control, so we have to accept it. We look forward to the next games and hope to win.
Although Afghanistan now has two points, their loss to England in Perth has dropped them to the bottom of Group 1. Due to the fact that they do not have a victory to their name, they are also below the hosts and defending champions Australia.
With three points from as many games, Ireland, on the other hand, jumps to second place behind leaders New Zealand in the points standings.
Fans are now hopeful that the second game of the day at the MCG, between Australia and England, won't be significantly impacted by the relentless rain. This game is important for determining the destiny of both teams in the tournament.