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Xtra Time Web Desk: Afghanistan’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2024 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. After their thrilling victory against Bangladesh, the team faced a nightmare in the semi-final against South Africa, bowled out for a mere 56 runs, resulting in a crushing 9-wicket defeat on Thursday.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has stirred the pot by suggesting that Afghanistan's dramatic collapse was influenced by unfair scheduling decisions by the ICC. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vaughan didn't hold back in his critique, highlighting the tight turnaround time Afghanistan faced.

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So Afghanistan qualify for the WC semi winning in St Vincent on Monday night .. 4 hr flight delay on Tues to Trinidad so no time to practice or get accustomed to a new venue .. utter lack of respect to players i am afraid .. #T20WorldCup2024

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 27, 2024

“So Afghanistan qualify for the WC semi winning in St Vincent on Monday night ... 4 hr flight delay on Tues to Trinidad so no time to practice or get accustomed to a new venue ... utter lack of respect to players I am afraid ... #T20WorldCup2024,” Vaughan tweeted.

Surely this Semi should have been the Guyana one .. but because the whole event is geared towards India it’s so unfair on others .. #T20IWorldCup

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 27, 2024

Vaughan's criticism extended beyond scheduling to the choice of the semi-final location, implying a bias in favor of the Indian team. He suggested that the prime time slot given to India’s match against England indicated preferential treatment.

While the scheduling and location could have been better managed, it's evident that the logistics have not been ideal for Afghanistan. The lack of adequate preparation time left them vulnerable, leading to their disastrous performance in Trinidad and Tobago.

Read More: T20 World Cup 2024: South Africa reaches their maiden final with sheer dominance

In what can only be described as an unmitigated disaster, Afghanistan was bowled out for a paltry 56 runs in just 11.5 overs. The South African bowling attack, featuring Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje, dismantled the Afghan batting line-up with ease.

South Africa chased down the modest target effortlessly, securing their first-ever spot in a T20 World Cup final with 9 wickets in hand and 67 balls to spare.

Michael Vaughan's accusations have cast a shadow over the ICC's handling of the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals. While the scheduling and location decisions have come under scrutiny, the focus now shifts to the final, where South Africa aims to make history. The debate over fairness and favoritism is likely to continue, but for now, the cricketing world watches as the tournament reaches its climax.