Punjab rue lack of reserve day for Hazare Trophy ouster

Bengaluru, October 22

Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh questioned BCCI for not having a reserve day in the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy after Punjab were denied a semifinal berth due to rain. Yuvraj questioned the idea behind not keeping a reserve day and wrote on Twitter: “Again an unfortunate result for Punjab against TN in the Vijay Hazare tournament. Again, Punjab cruising and game abandoned due to bad weather, and on points, we don't go to semis! Why don't we have a reserve day? Or is it domestic a tournament, it doesn't really matter? @BCCI.” Punjab cricketer Mandeep Singh had also expressed disappointment and said on Twitter: “Played outstanding cricket in the league stage in a very tough A/B group and qualified for the knockouts brilliantly. Now we're out of the tournament without even playing the quarterfinals due to rain. #reallydisappointed.” Mandeep got the support of Harbhajan, who replied: “Sick rule why not reserve day for these tournaments.” 

Karnataka vs Chhattisgarh, TN vs Gujarat in semis

Host Karnataka will hold the edge when they take on Chhattisgarh in the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here tomorrow while Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are set for an interesting battle in the other last-4 clash. The weather holds the key in both matches as rain is forecast for tomorrow.

Karnataka made short work of Puducherry in the quarterfinals. 

Chhattisgarh's quarterfinal against defending champions Mumbai was washed out on Monday, but Chhattisgarh entered the semifinals on the basis of more wins in the league phase. In the other semifinal, Tamil Nadu, lucky to come through against Punjab on the basis of having won more games in the league phase, face Gujarat, a comfortable winner against Delhi. — Agencies