JOHANNESBURG, Feb 27: Waqar Younis has warned World Cup organisers that one of the tournament’s finalists is likely to be decided by the toss of a coin.

The Pakistan captain urged them to re-think their plans of staging the second World Cup semifinal as a day-night match.

Waqar said in Centurion on Thursday: “It has become obvious that, in the matches played under lights in this World Cup, teams winning the toss are getting an unfair advantage.

“I would say any team which wins the toss has won the match 75 percent (of the time) and that is grossly unfair.

Waqar, whose side surprisingly lost a day-night match to England in Cape Town on Saturday after losing the toss, added: “I think there is still time for the ICC and the World Cup organisers to hold both semifinals as day affairs.

“I would support any move from other teams to have the ICC reconsider having the second semifinal in Durban as a day affair.”

World Cup executive director Ali Bacher, however, said: “Look at the statistics and there’s no substance to these allegations.”

He added that changes in climate were part of the game. “That’s cricket. That’s the unpredictability and beauty of the game.

“The semifinal (in Durban on March 20) will be a day-night game as scheduled.”

Pakistan suffered a shock 112-run defeat in Group ‘A’ when England won the toss at Newlands. After making 246, Nasser Hussain’s team skittled Pakistan for 134 as the ball began to swing under the evening lights.

It was England’s first win in six games against Pakistan.

England then suffered a similar fate in Durban on Wednesday against India.

Losing the toss, they restricted India to 250 for nine before being routed for 168.

England captain Hussain complimented India on bowling well for their victory, but added: “It (the ball) just seemed to zip off the wicket.

“Obviously it was our turn to be on the other side of the equation.” India captain Saurav Ganguly had conceded: “The toss was very crucial.”

The second World Cup semifinal is due to be staged in Durban as a day-nighter.

Several other significant Group ‘B’ games — Sri Lanka against West Indies in Cape Town on Friday and South Africa against Sri Lanka in Durban on Monday — are also day-night matches.

Those games could decide if the hosts South Africa reach the second round.

Commentators believe evening conditions and dew can offer bowlers more seam and swing movement.

At some grounds, however, too much dew can make it harder for bowlers to grip the ball later in the game, thus favouring sides batting second.

Changing winds can also affect conditions significantly, while the artificial light affects fielders trying to make catches as well as batsmen.

Waqar added: “The World Cup is held only once every four years and there should be no match where the toss decides the result. Teams should have an equal chance of winning.

“I think the organisers and the ICC should have thought about this issue before finalising the itinerary.

“Batting second under lights is very difficult in South Africa. We were on the receiving end against England, who themselves were on the other side of the fence against India.

“The team bowling second under lights, for whatever reason, has got the advantage of the ball seaming and skidding around a lot.

“For the batsmen also, it gets difficult to spot the ball as it loses its colour, which are big factors in deciding the outcome of th e game.

Bacher, however, said 15 day-night One-day Internationals had been held in Durban, with eight wins for sides batting second.

He said changes in coastal winds in Cape Town and Durban could affect whether the ball moved or swung at any time of the day.

He also argued that day-nighters were highly popular with South Africans, who could attend the games after work with their children. “They are a better spectacle,” he said.

To date, four of the five World Cup day-night matches have been won by the side winning the toss. The tournament’s opening match, however, was a close-run affair, with West Indies beating South Africa by just three runs.

The debate was a hot topic on Thursday following India’s win over England on Wednesday.

Former South Africa bowler Steven Jack, speaking on a World Cup programme shown by South African satellite broadcaster Supersport, said: “There’s definitely an advantage to bat first. It’s always been like that.

Referring to the Group ‘B’ day-nighters still to be played, he added: “These are massive games and you don’t want them to be decided on the toss of a coin.”—Reuters