ICC Mandates Venue Changes and Refund Policy for T20 World Cup Knockouts
NEW DELHI – The International Cricket Council (ICC) opened ticket sales for the T20 World Cup semi-finals and final on Tuesday, introducing significant venue contingencies tied to the qualification of the Pakistan and Sri Lanka national teams. While the schedule outlines matches for March 4, 5, and 8, the governing body has designated specific knockout fixtures as “floating venues” to accommodate geopolitical and security considerations.
The Pakistan Qualification Clause
Under the newly released protocols, the location of the first semi-final and the final depends entirely on which teams advance from the Super 8 stage. While the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is fixed to host the second semi-final on March 5, the first semi-final (March 4) and the final (March 8) are subject to relocation.
The standard schedule places the first semi-final in Kolkata and the final in Ahmedabad. However, if the Pakistan men’s cricket team qualifies for the semi-finals, their match will automatically shift to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Consequently, the originally scheduled match in Kolkata would be cancelled, triggering automatic refunds for ticket holders.
Key Venue Scenarios
The ICC structure prioritizes neutral venues or specific host agreements for Pakistan. The following table outlines the venue logic:
| Match | Date | Primary Venue | Contingency Venue (If Pakistan/SL Qualify) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Final 1 | March 4 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Semi-Final 2 | March 5 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | N/A (Venue Fixed) |
| Final | March 8 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
Sri Lanka and Specific Matchups
The venue changes also apply to the Sri Lankan team. If Sri Lanka qualifies for the first semi-final slot and is drawn against any opponent other than India, the match will move to Colombo. However, if India draws Sri Lanka in this bracket, or if neither Pakistan nor Sri Lanka qualify, the match will proceed in Kolkata as originally planned.
Refund Procedures for Displaced Fans
The ICC has implemented a guarantee for fans purchasing tickets for the Indian venues. If a match is relocated to Colombo due to the qualification of Pakistan or Sri Lanka, the ticketing partner will process full refunds for the Kolkata or Ahmedabad tickets. This policy ensures fans are not financially penalized for venue shifts dictated by tournament regulations.
This contingency planning mirrors previous tournaments where Pakistan’s matches were restricted from specific venues in India due to security protocols, most notably preventing the team from playing in Mumbai during the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.