T20 World Cup semi-finals: Schedule, times, venues & how to follow – BBC Sport

After 52 matches, the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup is reaching its conclusion.

Three games and four teams remain.

BBC Sport gives you all the key information before the semi-finals and final, including the schedule, Steven Finn’s key players and how to follow all the action.

Thursday, 27 June (01:30 BST): South Africa v Afghanistan (Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago)

Thursday, 27 June: (15:30 BST): India v England (Providence Stadium, Guyana)

Yes and no. Bear with us.

The first semi-final in Trinidad and Tobago does have a reserve day, but the second game in Guyana does not.

The reserve day for the first semi-final would see the game start from 19:00 BST on 27 June – which is, given the Caribbean is five hours behind the UK, the afternoon after the scheduled evening game should be played.

The scheduled match in Trinidad and Tobago has 60 minutes of extra time allocated on that day with a further 190 minutes allowed on the reserve day.

The second semi-final in Guyana has a total of 250 minutes of extra time that can be used on its scheduled day.

A minimum of 10 overs per side is needed for a result – increased from five overs in the previous stages.

As with other ICC events, every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day, even if that means a reduction in overs.

If the match starts but then is delayed, it will resume from that point on any reserve day.

Any semi-final that is washed out entirely would see the sides who finished higher in the Super 8s – which is South Africa and India – progress.

The final takes place on Saturday, 29 June from 15:30 BST at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

There will be a reserve day on the Sunday, also from 15:30 BST.

There is an extra 190 minutes allocated to both days, and once again 10 overs per side constitutes a match.

ICC T20 world ranking: Fourth

Best T20 World Cup performance: Semi-finalists (2009 & 2014)

South Africa’s route to the semi-finals

The Proteas are unbeaten in the tournament. They won all four of their group stage games, despite a scare that saw them win by one run against Associate nation Nepal.

Their men’s team is looking to reach the final of an ICC event for the first time since winning the 1998 Champions Trophy.

Key players, by ex-England bowler and TMS pundit Steven Finn

I’m going to go with batter Heinrich Klaasen, who has not really fired yet. He has only scored 138 runs at a strike-rate of 112.19, which is uncharacteristically low. He should have a key part to play in this tournament at some stage.

If South Africa are going to get over their semi-final hoodoo, you would feel it may be someone who has dealt with the pressure of the Indian Premier League in the recent past.

He was in good form coming into the tournament too – and he should be their most dangerous batter in the middle order after they will hope Quinton de Kock has set a platform.

In their bowling attack I am going to highlight Kagiso Rabada. Anrich Nortje has taken more wickets but Rabada has been more impressive. He is more versatile and that is important in T20 cricket. He has taken 10 wickets, at an economy of just 6.04, and when he is in full flow he is one of my favourite fast bowlers to watch.

ICC T20 world ranking: 10th

Best T20 World Cup performance: Round two (2016, 2021 & 2022)

Afghanistan’s route to the semi-finals

This is Afghanistan’s first time in the last four of an ICC event and they have eliminated New Zealand and Australia along the way.

Key players, by ex-England bowler and TMS pundit Steven Finn

I am going to say opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 281. He is very dangerous and usually if he lays a platform, everything else falls into place for Afghanistan. If he gets out, there is not too many other places to look for stability. He will have a crucial role, and will be looking to calm the nerves of the team.

The other is left-arm seamer Falazhaq Farooqi. He is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 16 and his versatility and the way he is taking wickets consistently is going to be crucial. He will open the bowling and if he can get them off to a good start it will calm the nerves that are bound to be there.